Audiovisual fund launched

An audiovisual fund of €233,000 has been set up by the government for the production of Maltese quality documentaries and short films.

The scheme was launched by Education and Culture Minister Dolores Cristina, who said the fund would help local companies to be in a better position to benefit from EU assistance for their work.

Mrs Cristina spoke on the importance of creating an indigenous audiovisual industry creating co-production opportunities with other countries.

She announced that MCAST was investing €1.5 million to set up a multimedia facility at the Art and Design Institute. This would include a television studio, video and sound control room, an editing suite and a graphics laboratory.

For the next scholastic year there will be 25 editing suites for students and another five professional suites. This was to be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Companies registered in Malta whose primary function is to produce audiovisual work can apply to benefit from the fund. Up to 50 per cent of the proposed budget can be given.