The Malta film industry is looking dry for 2013, with no foreign film production officially confirmed for next year.
The film industry is fickle and Malta cannot afford to waste precious time in the hope the Film Commissioner will be a fast learner
Film service providers over the past year have been expressing concern at the lack of major productions coming to the island, but Film Commissioner Peter Busuttil insisted to The Times the picture is not bleak.
Although “nothing is confirmed as yet”, he said the Malta Film Commission was ending the year “with about 60 production enquiries in total”, some of which were “almost” a closed deal.
“So far, I can only say we have a few productions that are 99 per cent confirmed.
“Hopefully, by the end of this month we’ll be able to confirm a couple of films,” said Mr Busuttil, who has been film commissioner for the past 18 months.
He said 2013 reflected “a bit the situation of people not finding the right finance”, and the way “the economy is going” meant a number of film productions were cancelled “not just in Malta”.
When The Times pointed out that countries with a very active film industry such as Hungary and South Africa were overwhelmed by the number of film productions, he replied these countries faced “different realities”.
He said 2012 was a “very good year” for the film industry in Malta.
However, according to a group of film service providers, the majority of the productions filmed in Malta this year – including a Belgian, a BBC and a Russian production – made limited use of Maltese crews.
It is also uncertain whether Sky TV series Sinbad, which filmed the first series in Malta at the beginning of the year, will be returning to the island in 2013.
“Sky TV wants a second series. Regarding whether they are coming or not is something we are dealing with... we are working on budgets,” Mr Busuttil said.
A group comprising Malta’s main film service providers met the Prime Minister last February to voice concerns its about the industry.
A copy of the letter presented to the Prime Minister, seen by The Times, claims the core roles of the commission, such as “facilitating the production of international films in Malta” and promoting, marketing Malta’s locations, facilities, skill, talent and expertise “are not being carried out properly”.
The service providers also said: “The commissioner’s [Mr Busuttil] manner and knowledge ability have been found lacking and embarrassing on several occasions.
“The film industry is a fickle one and Malta cannot afford to waste precious time in the hope he will be a fast learner or that he will improve his etiquette.”
We’re always here for everyone, 24 hours every day
Mr Busuttil said he was aware of the letter but said the service providers should be approached.
“The film industry is made up of a lot of people,” he said.
He dismissed claims by film service providers that their e-mail correspondence on production matters were “not answered” or “even acknowledged”.
“We’re always here for everyone. We are available here 24 hours every day,” he said.
Film service providers recommend that, from 2013, Malta should increase its rebate for foreign productions from 20 per cent to 25 per cent to be able to compete with the higher percentages being offered by competitors such as Bulgaria, which offers 30 per cent, and Hungary and Italy, which offer 25 per cent.
The rebate is based on a so-called cultural test, which is at the discretion of the commission board and the commissioner.
In their letter to the Prime Minister, film service providers complained some productions had received lower rebates than what was reasonably expected.
Mr Busuttil confirmed he was the one who would make the rebate recommendation to the Finance Ministry.
“Our discrimination is a positive one,” he said, adding that the commission was “trying to work” on other initiatives to become more competitive.
Marketing concerns will be allayed by the prestigious European Film Awards to be held in Malta on December 1.
“We will be bringing over 600 people who work in the industry and that is very important,” Mr Busuttil said.