The public’s incredible response to the second Valletta Film Festival proved to be a greater success than the previous year! I had the pleasure of attending numerous screenings and was impressed by the very strong attendance not only to the sold-out events of Midnight Express and Limestone Cowboy attended by Sir Alan Parker and debut director Abigail Mallia respectively, but also the films which were either in or out of the competition! The selection of films and documentaries, from Saudi Arabia to Venezuela to Iran and many European countries, was simply outstanding! This year, film patrons had the option to purchase an all screening pass at a very reasonable price, which made it more convenient to plan ahead.

The hard work the organizers put in for this second festival was obvious as it was attended by renowned directors like Sir Alan Parker for the special screening of Midnight Express along with other famous names to judge the competition films. 

They included the winning actress of Cannes 2012 Cosmina Stratan, actor Brontis Jodorowsky fresh from the successful Cannes film Endless Poetry, Tamer El Said, a successful independent Egyptian filmmaker, Valery Rosier who won several film awards for his short films, and director Carolina Hellsgard who last year won the best screenplay award at this same festival!

Rather than just filling a festival with a number of films, the organizers worked hard to select quality films to be enjoyed by the audience. One must also mention that apart from the vast selection of films from around the world, the festival had some very interesting Q&A talks with actors and directors as well as Master Classes on various subjects held by renowned filmmakers and professional people in the film industry. These master classes were a golden opportunity for local artists to attend and learn about the film industry. A very special mention goes to the wonderful and numerous volunteers who helped make the whole nine days of the festival run smoothly. They were always there to help the public with any queries and greeted the audience with a smile at all times. Without their invaluable help this festival would not have been possible! I urge the public to continue supporting this very important festival because apart from it being a joy for movie goers, it's also an opportunity for aspiring local filmmakers and artists alike to learn. 

Robert Grima

Naxxar