A €1 million film co-production grant will help bring more local films to the silver screen, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said yesterday.
Addressing a press conference at the PBS Creativity Hub in Guardamangia, Dr Mallia, who is also responsible for the film industry, said the new grant was aimed at turning scripts into actual productions.
He said that, since the Malta Film Fund was introduced in 2008, there were at least 58 applications for grants but only six became full productions.
“The point of this new grant is to turn scripts and other unfinished projects into complete productions. This was not always being done in the past,” he said.
The film fund is divided into two grants: one for development and another focused on production.
The point of this new grant is to turn scripts into finished productions
The two, Dr Mallia explained, would see projects given a maximum of €30,000 each, €10,000 more than in previous years.
Another new feature will mean certain productions are given comprehensive financial support. Dr Mallia said that, previously, grants would only cover a maximum of 50 per cent, with production teams forking out the other half.
“We believe in local talent and want to see it succeed.
“That is why we will be extending all the support we can to see this industry flourish,” he said, adding he wanted film production to become a major contributor to the economy.
Film Commissioner Engelbert Grech said the bolstered grant showed the government’s commitment to support the industry, which ranked bottom of the European list.
“We have been getting a lot of support from the government in recent weeks and I feel this is warranted. We believe in local talent and it is good that the government is sharing our enthusiasm,” he said.
Applications for the development grants were opened earlier this week and the production fund will be launched in June.
Dr Mallia said all applications would be processed within a month of submission.
The authorities had received complaints from stakeholders that applications were not being processed for several months, he noted.
Once approved for funding, all projects will be assigned a mentor by the Film Commission to assist in development and project management.