The Malta Independent 12 November 2024, Tuesday
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Still no word of accountability

Julie Zahra Sunday, 29 September 2024, 07:46 Last update: about 3 months ago

At the time of writing, the Mediterrane Film Festival is being promoted on the national broadcaster, as it was set to be aired on Friday night at prime time. I have no doubt that by the time you will be reading this, a thorough analysis of the show and its extravagance will have made the online and offline rounds. I am convinced that the show will have lived up to any expectations of any entertainment standard, including the famous short film, starring none other than our intrepid Commissioner of Films Johann Grech.

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The festival was shown just a few days after international super star and acclaimed director Mel Gibson was in Malta, reportedly scouting for future projects. Naturally this is great news. While the vast majority of directors and producers usually prefer to pass undetected, keeping a low profile, everyone has their own style. Yet, something tells me it was more the doing of a local publicity stunt, other than the personal style of the Australian star. I trust the selfies will be uploaded some time or other, I'm sure!

So, the message is very clear. After a presumably forced radio silence from Mr Grech and his Commission, following the post-show outcry last June, the time of penance is over, the purification is now complete. All sins have been forgiven, and the Commission is at liberty to kick off the next season of wall-to-wall marketing and promotion! We have learnt nothing!

We haven't learnt anything about the costs that went into organising the show, and how the moneys were spent. We haven't seen any accountability for the expenses, or any paperwork that puts taxpayers' minds at rest. The questions remain, and it is not acceptable.

It goes without saying, organising an event that celebrates the film industry and recognises those who work hard in it is commendable, but the way things were done leaves much to be desired. We cannot remain in complete darkness, working off guestimates and hunches.

But this is not just about the festival itself. In the meanwhile, an entire industry is being run to the ground and the efforts and life-aspirations of hundreds of dedicated professionals are being put at risk.

The film servicing industry in the past months has seen a worrying amount of productions looking elsewhere to get their films shot. A distressing number of productions who were actively considering Malta, some of which had even actually started production, have moved away from the island in favour of other jurisdictions. This is extremely worrying, yet not one single word was uttered from the Minister, or the Commissioner about it. Have we analysed why this has happened to at least three major productions? Have we tried to understand what it is that has pushed these productions away? A professionally run commission would be all over it, to try to understand what went wrong. Our Commissioner was presumably too busy applying make-up to star in the short film.

Then there's the local industry which remains in a state of complete limbo. I cannot wait to find some time to get myself to the cinema and watch Castillo, the new local theatrical release based on a local award-winning novel. The comments I have heard about it are nothing short of impressive, as it is being marked as a milestone in local cinema history.

The talent on all fronts we have is incredible. Our stories are intriguing and have the makings of great productions. And yet, our local production houses remain at the mercy of tiny budgets and a host of other limitations.

I commended the film fund being moved to the Arts Council. I also listened with interest to Albert Marshall, the Council chair, as he said that the fund needs to be, at least, tripled, in order to make any sense. I agree Mr Marshall, possibly even more.

We need to do all it takes to bolster our fledgling local film industry. We need to create the right environment, craft new opportunities and establish collaborations that help our local creatives tell their stories and create their art.

I look forward to the upcoming Budget to learn more about how Government intends to breathe new life into the future of the industry.

After all, we really cannot afford to have another embarrassing Mediterrane Film Festival, that showcases films from the entire Mediterranean basin, but not one single film from the host country Malta.

 

Julie Zahra is the Opposition's Shadow Minister for Cultural Heritage, Arts, and Culture

 

 

 


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