Film producer Mie Andreasen. Photo: Jason BorgA potential Danish blockbuster is being filmed in Malta, featuring the island as the holiday destination a family chooses for their mother’s 60th birthday.
With Oscar winner Mie Andreasen as producer, the comedy Malta – All Inclusive has Malta as Malta instead of some other country, as is very often the case, Pierre Ellul, of Falkun Film Productions Ltd, said.
Production manager Mr Ellul met Ms Andreasen in December to show her potential locations for the movie.
Originally intended to be shot in Mallorca, Spain, the script was changed following the three-day location scout, which was held just before Christmas.
“A lot of Scandinavians come to southern Europe for their vacation so we looked at Spain, Croatia and Malta, among other countries,” she told Times of Malta.
“But when I came to Malta everything fell in place: the location, production facilities and financial incentives.
“And through our research we found that a lot of Scandinavians come to Malta on holiday.
“Malta is actually a film set. You can shoot wherever you go, wherever you look.
“Malta has also given the production a new look. Compared with the bluish and greyish Danish backdrops, Malta is eye-candy. The limestone and blue sea colours give the shots a pleasant look.”
Asked about the audience this production will capture, Ms Andreasen said it will “definitely be a blockbuster”.
It will probably be dubbed in Germany, France and Italy, so the Maltese might be able to watch the film if it reaches Italian shores.
Malta is actually a film set. You can shoot wherever you go, wherever you look
The movie, by the production company Happy Ending Films, is written by Mette Heeno and directed by Hella Joof, both well-known women in Denmark.
The film is about a mother and her two daughters who travel to Malta for her 60th birthday. The trip is full of expectations, old family patterns, jealousy, lies, love and funny mishaps, as the mother falls for a local man.
Ms Joof’s debut En kort en lang (Shake it all about) was seen by 10 per cent of the Danish population, and her second feature, Oh Happy Day, was sold to Disney for a US remake.
The main creative team and cast for Malta – All Inclusive is all female, while out of the total 50 “talented” crew and cast members, nearly 40 are Maltese.
The film is mainly shot at the Radisson Blu Hotel in St Julian’s, in Siġġiewi, Selmun, Mdina, Safi and the Splash and Fun Park in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.
Air Malta will also feature as some scenes were filmed on one of its planes – something very rare, according to Ms Andreasen.
The 95-minute production benefits from government incentives offered by the Malta Film Commission, and it is supported by the Malta Tourism Authority, the Tourism Ministry, Air Malta and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Mr Ellul said.
Ms Andreasen added: “It will definitely have a positive effect on Malta and a lot of Scandinavians will want to come here after watching it. The movie has a happy ending but it also takes a realistic tone to life.”
Will it have a sequel?
“We definitely want to do a sequel but we have to wait and see the reaction... but if there is a sequel, we might go for Gozo next time.”