MCAST and the Malta Film Commission (MFC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see both parties collaborate to raise the awareness of the film making industry in Malta as well as to provide MCAST students with further training opportunities.
Malta has been a one-of-a-kind film destination for medium to large foreign productions due to its unique architecture, stunning landscapes and enticing financial incentives and this joint collaboration will further strengthen and develop Malta’s indigenous film industry. This agreement is also intended to provide a framework for collaboration, training initiatives and pooling of resources and support for the implementation of identified initiatives by the Malta Film Commission and MCAST.
To celebrate 90 years of Malta’s contribution to the film industry this agreement will provide MCAST students the opportunity to create four short clips showcasing Malta’s Film Legacy. A handful of MCAST film students will be tasked to create the clips, from conceptualizing ideas to the finished product. These clips, which will be aired on our National Station, will target and highlight different aspects of the Maltese film industry since 1925. From exploring the journey of our film heritage from early 1900’s through to present day, to focusing on our home grown indigenous film culture and young talent, the video clips will surely be a great opportunity and an interesting challenge for MCAST students.
Film Commissioner Engelbert Grech explained that the Memorandum of Understanding was the result of a joint effort to develop an active participation of MCAST students benefitting from the opportunities derived from the film industry. ‘We feel that this collaboration with MCAST is an exciting step forward and is an efficient way of connecting students with the local film industry. We encourage MCAST students to take mileage of this collaboration and to engage in a great opportunity which will hone in their filmmaking skills’.
Dr Silvio De Bono, MCAST’s President of the Board of Governors, stated ‘MCAST is pleased to be signing this MoU with the Malta Film Commission for a number of reasons. Firstly, MCAST is always focused on the professional development of its students and the exposure of our Creative Arts students to the film industry is most welcome. Such activities will surely help the students achieve unique experience that cannot be obtained otherwise. Through this MoU MCAST Creative Arts students will produce 4 featurettes/clips of 2 minutes duration each for broadcasting. In fact, the Malta Film Commission will take a number of Creative Arts students as interns and mentor their activities in the realisation of the concept, script writing, filming and editing of the clips. In addition, MCAST is also pleased that the project will help promote the Maltese film making industry which has been growing so rapidly over the last few years.
The official signing of the MoU was signed by Dr Silvio De Bono, President MCAST Board of Governors and Mr Engelbert Grech, Film Commissioner on Friday 19 June at MCAST.