Midnight Express director Alan Parker.

The second edition of the Valletta Film Festival, organised by the Film Grain Foundation, will take place between June 3 and 11.

Over 40 international films will have their Maltese premieres during the festival, in various open-air venues around Valletta – Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Fort St Elmo and St George’s Square. Spazju Kreattiv and Embassy Cinemas will also host several screenings.

“Following the success of the first edition, this year, VFF will include more films, more events and a new sidebar section entitled ‘Teens Only’, showcasing films for teenagers from the ages of 13 to 18,” Oliver Mallia, one of the directors of the festival said.

Opening night will be held at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, with the premiere of Inhebbek Hedi, a Tunisian film by Mohammed Ben Attia. At the ceremony, the two main actors of the film, Majd Mastoura, winner of Best Actor at the 66th International Berlin Film Festival and Rym Ben Messaoud, will be present to launch proceedings.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is special guest Sir Alan Parker, the director of Midnight Express, Evita and The Life of David Gale. He will be present in Malta to celebrate Valletta’s 450th anniversary and its links to cinema at a special screening of Midnight Express on June 4 at Fort St Elmo, the location where the film was shot.

Seven feature films, seven documentaries and 26 short films will be competing for the Triton Awards in Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor and Actress, Best Documentary and Best Short Film. The awards ceremony will take place on June 11 at Fort St Elmo.

VFF will also include masterclasses on Directing Actor’ and Writing the Short Film, as well as the Conference of Small Nations, which are supported by the Malta Film Commission.

Tickets are available online.

www.vallettafilmfestival.com.