The Office of the Auditor General has been formally requested to investigate what is being described as uncontrolled and irregular public spending on the 2025 Mediterrane Film Festival.

The call for an investigation came from Carmel Cacopardo, Deputy Chairperson of ADPD - The Green Party, who wrote directly to Auditor General Charles Deguara, expressing serious concerns about how public funds were used for the festival, which was held from June 21 to 29.

According to Cacopardo, the government tender for the organization of the festival - reportedly worth several million euros - was awarded on 3 July, several days after the event had concluded. He referenced a report by The Shift News that highlighted the late awarding of the contract.

Cacopardo pointed out that preparations for the festival - and thus related expenditures - began weeks before its official start, raising questions about how funds were approved and spent without proper authorization.

"What kind of governance allows for public money to be spent without approval, and only formalized after the fact?" Cacopardo asked in his letter. "It is inevitable that in these circumstances, one concludes that public funds are being spent haphazardly and without any effective control."

He called the situation a blatant abuse of public funds and urged the Auditor General to investigate the matter thoroughly.

In a statement later, the Malta Film Commission said reports published this morning suggesting that tender CT2083/2025, related to the Mediterrane Film Festival, was awarded or signed after the event took place are "unequivocally incorrect".

For the record, the tender was adjudicated on 21 May 2025, awarded on 30 May 2025, and the contract was signed on 9 June 2025, the commission said.

"Had clarification been sought prior to publication, as responsible journalism would require, both the Commission and the Department of Contracts would have gladly provided the accurate timeline to avoid the dissemination of misleading information," the statement said.