The annual Evenings on Campus kicking off tonight will open this year with the screening of three short films by the first group of students reading for a master’s in film studies.

A screengrab from Daniel.

The films – Daniel, Ħuduni d-Dar! (Take me home!) and Il-Ħadd (Sunday) were produced by a group of 15 students, who worked on the films as part of their course work. The screenplays for the three films, all shot in Vittoriosa, were written by three of the students.

Two of the films are in Maltese with English subtitles, while the third is in English – and all link to the central theme of memory. This was chosen by award-winning international directors Antonio Piazza, Fabio Grassadonia and Scott Graham, as well as directors of photography Francesco Di Giacomo and Federico Angelucci, who supervised the students.

“While three of the students wrote the screenplays, the films were created by all 15 students. The screening is a first, as this is the first group of students to read for this degree,” Faculty of Arts deputy dean Gloria Lauri-Lucente told this newspaper yesterday.

A screengrab from Il-Ħadd.

The screening is a first, as this is the first group to read for the film degree

According to Prof. Lauri-Lucente, the students, aged between 23 and 61, had different roles, each contributing to the final product. Students will give a presentation about their work ahead of the screening, she added.

Science of Love at last year’s festival. This year, the event will again focus on the neuroscience, genetics and chemistry behind love. Photo: Daphne Deguara

“After scouting for locations, we lecturers and the foreign supervisors agreed that the films should be shot at Vittoriosa. We felt this was the ideal spot for the short film, both logistically as well as artistically,” Prof. Lauri-Lucente said. She added that the choice of theme gave the students plenty of material to work with, especially coupled with the chosen location.

The evening will also serve as a tribute to Connie Azzopardi, the main actress in Ħuduni d-Dar! – who passed away in June.

It is the first in a series of events at the university that are part of the annual Evenings on Campus, held every year since 1992.

Dr Edward Duca, one of the speakers at Science of Love, leading the discussion at last year’s talk by Malta Café Scientifique. Photo: Daphne Deguara

Evenings on Campus will also host Science of Love by Café Scientifique. This is an activity of the Malta Chamber of Scientists and will focus on the neuroscience, genetics and chemistry behind love.

The festival will run until Tuesday. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis for all events. The venues are accessible to wheelchair users and include free parking in Car Park 6 of the University of Malta, Msida Campus.

For reservations and more information, visit the Evenings on Campus Facebook page, send an e-mail to eveningsoncampus@um.edu.mt or call on +356 7984 3480.

The evening will also serve as a tribute to Connie Azzopardi, who passed away in June. Ms Azzopardi was the main actress in Ħuduni d-Dar!