“Key players” in the film industry yesterday voiced serious concerns on the “attractiveness of Malta” to foreign productions.
Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia presided over a symposium in which Malta Film Commission members were asked to suggest how to bolster international interest in the island’s film services.
Doubts over the industry’s future in Malta were first raised last year after it was revealed no foreign productions had been confirmed for 2013.
Film Commissioner Peter Busuttil did not indicate if any productions had been confirmed since and journalists were not invited to put questions during the meeting.
In his opening remarks, Dr Mallia said the Government was committed to strengthening the film industry and was holding the meeting with the aim of getting a full view of its weaknesses and strengths.
They are paid from our taxes and then they go into business against us
Ino Bonello, an audio-visual engineer who specialises in set design, said that while the industry required regulation and “pruning”, financial incentives would likely be unsuccessful if not regulated.
In 2011, a group of stakeholders wrote to then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to voice concerns over the tax rebate offered to large foreign productions.
The scheme, which offers rebates of up to 20 per cent, is based on a so-called cultural test, which is at the discretion of the commission board and the commissioner.
Film service providers recommended the rebate be increased to 25 per cent to be able to compete with that offered by competitors such as Bulgaria, Hungary and Italy, which offer 30 per cent.
John Debono said he was astonished by the visa approval system which, he claimed, had led to a crew of eastern Europeans having to cancel their operations in Malta last year.
Mr Debono also expressed his concerns over the conduct of former film commissioners who had allegedly ended up being in competition with the rest of the commission.
“They are paid from our taxes and then they go into business against us. Is that right?” Mr Debono lamented.