Afilm industry symposium has just been held by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is responsible for the Malta Film Commission.

The very fledgling, indigenous film industry – which has everything to do with the creation of locally produced films – and the servicing film industry – which is all about international producers coming to film in Malta – are two huge and distinct pillars of the film industry that each deserve their own discussion platform.

In recent years, the Malta Film Commission has re-invented its role by trying to nurture local talent that can make Maltese films but doing this somewhat at the sacrifice of the industry that services international films.

The latter is the core role and purpose why commissions are set up around the world.

The commission’s initiative to organise training for film crews, both creative and technical, should not go unappreciated and neither discontinued.

But this should be the work of another entity such as the Department of Culture, not burden the Film Commission.

As was declared during the symposium, the commission should never stop striving to attract international shoots and replying to foreign inquiries in an intelligent, courteous and timely manner.

Moreover, it should work constantly on ensuring government red tape is reduced and not allow it to increase. Filming permissions involving government entities should be streamlined efficiently in a centralised system and certain types of permits should not continuously depend on the intervention of the Film Commissioner.

One location manager pointed out that getting filming permits is often an overly prolonged process and the conditions imposed are sometimes without logic.

For example, Mepa once stopped a film producer bringing equipment on to a beach by truck but then allowed a refuse truck to access the same beach during filming. The reason was they “had no control over the refuse truck”.

Moreover, Fort Ricasoli, a popular film set for many international productions, continues to deteriorate and permit fees collected by Mepa are never directed towards its restoration.

One year ago, the Film Commission held a public discussion with Mepa officials. Stakeholders had a lot to say during and after the event.

A published report was promised by the commission but this has never seen the light of day. With no follow-up action by all parties concerned these discussions are, more often than not, a waste of time except, of course, for those featuring prominently in press releases when announcing them.

As was also mentioned in the symposium, the commission must stop coordinating foreign productions, even in the most subtle of ways, and it should encourage film companies to hire local producers, production managers or service companies. This it should do by distributing a list bearing the names, in alphabetical order, of all those with experience, with their proper credits listed alongside.

The prerogative of who to hire should belong to the foreign producer and the commission should never drop hints or give directions.

It is sad that this list was once removed from the commission’s website and even sadder that it had to take a meeting between a group of service providers and the Prime Minister seven months later for the commission to put it back online.

There is a worrying stagnation of international film activity in Malta

In the symposium, the minister sought opinions about whether the world-renowned Rinella tanks in Kalkara should be run by the government or the private sector.

History has proven that no government, of whatever colour, was capable of running this film facility in a reputable manner, save for a few exceptional years throughout the three decades it has been under government control.

The tanks have a monumental significance for the island and its attraction of foreign productions.

Should they fall into the government’s lap by default following a court order that is pending, a public tender process should be launched in line with EU policy and with a view of attracting experienced film facility investors.

There is a worrying stagnation of international film activity in Malta, especially when compared to 2005-2011. Several experienced crew members are now forced to seek other careers.

The Malta Film Commission’s way of promoting Malta and its handling of inquiries have a significant impact on such activity but its success also depends on the attractiveness or unattractiveness of the ‘Malta product’.

This product depends on various elements such as sound stages, streamlining location permits (Mepa and local councils), visas, local equipment and crews, costs and so on.

The Film Commission must strive harder to make Malta cost-efficient and film-friendly enough to maintain a certain minimum flow of work in the country.

A change in government, love it or hate it, often brings a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Decisions made over the coming months will, one way or another, set the path for those aspiring to make a living in this industry.

Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante is a film and TV line-producer based in Cape Town, South Africa.