Three foreign film productions have confirmed they will be shooting in Malta next year, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said this afternoon.

The Falklands war-themed film "Destroyer", a French film set in Afghanistan and a yet-to-be revealed series will all have scenes set in Malta.

Mr Fenech announced the three productions shortly before he awarded 15 indigenous film makers with just under €240,000 in development and production grants.

The Malta Film Fund grants will help local talent grow Malta's indigenous film industry, Culture Minister Mario de Marco said. The fund has disbursed over €900,000 since 2008.

He noted how foreign productions, important for economic and promotional purposes, often meant the public did not pay much attention to local film.

Dr de Marco pointed to "Dear Dom", a local production which had done well among local audiences, as an example of growing interest in local film.

"The local film industry is still in its infancy, but it is growing. Funds such as these are aimed at helping local talent develop further," Dr de Marco told his audience of film makers.

Previous Malta Film Fund beneficiaries include "Simshar", Malta's first-ever full feature film for an international audience. The film has now entered full production, with filming taking place throughout the course of these weeks.

This year's 15 grant beneficiaries will use the money to either develop their short film and documentary ideas, or else to move them through actual production.

Mr Fenech said the film industry was a key economic focus for the country, with Malta having received over 70 productions over the past four years. Those productions brought in €110 million to the economy, he said.