Preparations are in full swing as Malta gets ready to host this year’s European Film Awards. With some film stars expected to descend on our island, Paula Fleri-Soler catches up with Film Commissioner Peter Busuttil to find out more.

Things are set to get even more exciting in the filming industry as Malta is gearing up to host the 25th edition of the European Film Awards, the culmination of a year of activities organised by the European Film Academy.

Things will never work out as planned. In our case, we must be armed with a Plan Z

The awards honour the best and brightest achievements in European cinema in a glittering event that takes place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC), and which will be broadcast worldwide.

The nominations were announced a week ago, and awards will be given in numerous categories, including European Film, European Director, European Actress and European Actor.

Film Commissioner Peter Busuttil and the Malta Film Commission are currently working around the clock as final preparations get underway.

Being just under three weeks away from the European Film Awards, the first question to a rather frazzled-sounding Busuttil is the natural one; how are the preparations going?

Never one to mince his words, he replies: “Rather than in full swing, I would say in extreme swing…and in all directions, but with our undivided attention on what we are swinging at. We have already started to occupy the MCC with a number of offices that are dealing with all the aspects of the production.

“Different teams are working on all aspects and logistics of this event. The awards night, i.e. the main event itself, is one of a number of European Film Academy-related events which include the Nominations Night, the press conference, the party and many others. Each event has its own particular characteristics.”

As can be seen from the nominations list – and the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards, Helen Mirren and Bernardo Bertolucci – Malta is about to play host to a number of well-known actors, directors and key industry players. So what sort of welcomedoes Malta plan for them?

“My immediate personal response is to welcome them with our culture, our history and our hospitality. My professional response is to ensure they make the most of the 48 hours they will be here for and to inspire them to visit Malta again.”

Busuttil adds that he is a “firm believer in our country’s capabilities of harnessing interest in our film industry”. Not only to invite players to visit but for some of them to bring their projects to Malta, or even to encourage them to plan future productions with Malta in mind”.

The glitz and glamour of the actual ceremony will certainly put Malta on the map during the awards weekend, but what will the ceremony mean for Malta in the long run?

“In the long run we would have etched our name in European Film history; not only for the organisation of the European Film Awards, but for organising the 25th edition, which is in itself a milestone for the European Film Academy,” Busuttil points out.

“On a personal level,” he adds, “we hope that our visitors will – and I am sure that this will happen – start a filmic love affair with our islands; an affair that will last over time and that will in the long run place Malta on a European level in the film business. We also expect some informal networking between Maltese and foreign professionals during the event itself, and this could also lead to future projects.”

Busuttil must be feeling extremely excited about the event, while at the same time feeling the weight of responsibility that it all goes without a hitch. How does he reconcile the two?

“By not sleeping or, at best, by sleeping with an iPad under mypillow,” he says with a laugh. “I have worked on quite a number of large-scale events in the past and I have learnt to assume that things will never work out as planned. In our case, we must be armed with a Plan Z.”

He goes on to add that the adrenaline is something which flows throughout and that the whole team is aware that Malta needs to excel, both in the simple details and in the more complex aspects for the event to be successful.

“I can say hand on heart that I take on the excitement and the responsibility willingly, with the right amount of concentration and the knowledge of not taking anything for granted.”

The European Film Awards will take place on December 1 and will be broadcast live by TVM.