Shot on 16mm film in the streets of Buġibba, with no locked sets and no extras, Żafżifa - which had its acclaimed international premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival - was not made the easy way.

Moving between English, Maltese, Tagalog and other languages, director Peter Sant built much of the story around the lives of the people he met along the way. For the two actors at the centre of the film, that approach offered a freedom neither had encountered on a feature set before.

"We embraced all activity on set," says Dimitrios Giannakoudakis, who plays the lead. "It forces you to embrace the moment and listen because you never know what's coming next. The passing trucks, the public in the background - these kinds of elements give the film an almost documentary feel. They help capture the spirit of the place, which is crucial to the project."

He plays Dimitros, a man who returns to Malta after a long absence to find that everything around him has shifted. "He's haunted by a mysterious past and an uncertain future," he shares. "The first time he catches up with Karim (played by Mehdi Aouni) at Sirens bar in St Paul's Bay, the place looks like it hasn't changed in 30 years. A few days later, they meet there again, but it's transformed into a kebab shop." In a case of art truly imitating life, Giannakoudakis adds: "This all really happened while we were shooting."

His connection to the island runs deep. "Malta is my motherland - so it is in me," he says. "In the film, it isn't just a backdrop; it's a character: the heat, the clutter, the breeze from the sea and the sounds are all very present in our daily lives. In the film, we worked with them rather than against them."

For Crishelle Medrano, who plays Annie, the path to the role began with a casting call that she nearly ignored. "I saw the casting call on social media and showed it to my sister, who said, 'Why not give it a try?', but I decided to let it go," she recalls. Providence, however, stepped in - despite her continued reservations about the project. "After about four days I saw the post again and decided to go for it. The casting director arranged a time and place for us to meet. I went with my Indian friend to the audition, just in case it was a scam."

Following an informal - and thankfully legitimate - audition process in which she was asked to tell a story, Medrano was offered the part. "I've done some TV work back home in the Philippines, but this was my first major role," she shares, adding that her distance from family made Annie especially relatable. "I think every actor brings a part of themselves to their role. For me, it was easy to tap into all these emotions and hardships because I feel them every day, being away from my family and my children. You need to be strong, especially when you talk to them. But inside, you endure the hardship and sadness of being so far away and that's painful. Like it says in the film: I'm here for them, to give them a better life and all the opportunities they deserve. I did my best to make it a sincere and honest portrayal."

While both actors fondly remember working with much-loved Maltese actress Marylu Coppini in her final screen performance, the 1 May date of the film's Malta premiere also carried poignant meaning.

"I am so happy the film premiered on Workers' Day," Medrano says. "This captures a lot of what I feel the film is about, and viewers should hopefully see a part of themselves in the story." Indeed, through its portrait of a Maltese town in flux, Żafżifa invites reflection. "I hope it will spark conversations, empathy, appreciation - and offer insight into the different human experiences represented in the film."

Żafżifa is showing in Maltese cinemas from 13 May at Embassy Cinemas Valletta, Eden Cinemas St Julian's and Citadel Cinemas Gozo. This Hereonin production is supported by Creative Malta and Arts Council Malta. For more information, visit hereonin.org/zafzifa.