Arts Council Malta recently held the Co-Production Roadmap Masterclass for Maltese producers and filmmakers, supporting local screen professionals with the practical knowledge needed to develop international co-productions, strengthen financing strategies, and build more effective creative partnerships.
The initiative forms part of the Council's wider work to give the local film sector stronger professional foundations, helping producers and filmmakers move from individual project development towards stronger long-term planning, better project readiness, and more sustainable collaboration beyond Malta.
The masterclass attracted strong interest from the sector, with 28 applications received. It was led by Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine, founder of The Copro Agency, who brought extensive international experience in co-production, audiovisual law, business affairs, project development, and international legal frameworks.
The programme offered participants a practical roadmap for initiating and structuring co-productions, with sessions covering legal and financial frameworks, official and non-official co-productions, international financing sources, collaborative and transparent partnerships, cultural awareness, ethical practice, and the negotiation of key terms.
The initiative also included one-to-one consultations, allowing producers and filmmakers to receive more tailored feedback on their projects. This focused format supported participants in strengthening their project readiness, avoiding common pitfalls in international collaboration and developing clearer pathways for working with partners beyond Malta.
Head of the Domestic Film Development & Strategy Unit, Ms Lyona Xuereb Gatt said: "A very important part of the Domestic Film Unit's work is its training initiatives. We are actively engaging with and collaborating with key film institutes that can provide the right kind of training tailored to Malta's needs and the development of our local industry.
Through our previous events and consultations, we identified a significant demand for guidance on co-productions. We received many inquiries and noticed that there were still several misconceptions and uncertainties about the process-what co-production entails, how it works in practice, and how producers can successfully navigate it.
This is precisely why we decided to develop the Co-Production Roadmap: to provide clarity, practical guidance, and a structured pathway for filmmakers and producers looking to explore co-production opportunities."
The masterclass is one of several initiatives being developed for Maltese filmmakers and producers. More upcoming opportunities include the Audience Design workshops, which will take place in Valletta in October 2026 and will support selected Maltese production companies in identifying the potential audiences, market appeal and communication strategies of feature-length projects currently in development.
Led by internationally recognised audience design consultant Síle Culley, the workshops are open to Maltese production companies that received Development funding in 2024 or 2025 and are working on a feature-length project intended for the local market or for co-production. Applications close on Monday, 10 August, 2026, with the workshops taking place across one of two two-day sessions, on 6 and 7 October or 8 and 9 October, 2026.
Further initiatives and calls aimed at Maltese filmmakers and producers will be announced soon. For more information visit here.