Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1149911
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 JULY 2019 12 CULTURE FILM FALKUN Films has once again broken another barrier for Maltese film with the making of Carmen, a Maltese-Canadian co-production, with acclaimed actress Natascha McElhone playing the lead. Natascha McElhone was most recently seen opposite Sean Penn in Hulu's and Channel 4's The First, as well as a series lead on Designated Survivor opposite Kiefer Sutherland, Californication with David Duchovny, and in Ste- phen Soderberg's Solaris opposite George Clooney. Carmen is a charming story set in a village in Malta in the 1980s. Car- men (McElhone) has looked after her brother, a priest, ever since she was 16 years of age. Thirty years later, Carmen suddenly is left to start a new life. Facing her past, she brings colour to the lives of the villagers in this compelling story about a woman finding her voice. Written and directed by Valerie Buhagiar, Carmen was inspired by real life events. Born in Malta, this is Buhagiar's third feature. She be- gan her career as an actress during the Toronto New Wave starring in films like Roadkill and Highway 61. Her first outing as a writer-direc- tor was the short film The Passion of Rita Camilleri which won a Best Short award at the Chicago Inter- national Film Festival. Her two previous features are 2014's The Anniversary and 2018's It's Hard To Be Human. Produced by Pierre Ellul togeth- er with Anika Psaila Savona, and their partner in Canada, Coral Ai- ken, this film was shot entirely in the Maltese islands, in both Gozo and Malta. Nearly all the crew and cast are Maltese, with seasoned actors like Peter Galea, Henry Zammit Cor- dina, Paul Portelli, Pauline Fenech and a very talented newcomer Mi- chela Farrugia. Anika Psaila Savona says "this is a quintessential Maltese film. The story could not be more Maltese than this and it is a wonderful tes- tament to Malta and the Maltese identity. This is the Malta we want to see more of." Pierre Ellul, not new in Maltese film circles, says "When I first read Valerie's script I knew that this was a story that had to be told. Na- tascha loved it too and with her on board it gave the project a whole different dimension. With the right structures in place to support indigenous film projects, the lo- cal industry can grow and be more sustainable in the longterm rather than relying solely on foreign pro- ductions filming here. The co-pro- duction fund in particular and the film fund managed by the Malta Film Commission were instru- mental in making this film happen. Without this and the help of some private equity we simply would not have gotten so far. However, besides needing more investment, we also need more openness to diverse projects and a more clear vision to make the local film indus- try grow. We are currently losing talent to other industries and over- seas so we need to build on this, so that those who seek a career in film can find opportunities here too." Carmen is planned to be released in 2020. Carmen is produced by Pierre El- lul of Falkun Films, Coral Aiken of Aiken Heart Films and Anika Psaila Savona. Executive Produc- ers are Daniel Bekerman (Scythia Films), José Luis Escolar, (Calle Cruzada), Mark Gingras and Doro- thy Coetzee. The film is produced with the support of the Malta Film Com- mission and the Government of Malta, the Malta Film Fund, the Malta Co Production Fund, Tele- film Canada, the Canadian Broad- casting Corporation, Vigilante Productions and Ontario Creates. Production leads include cin- ematographer Diego Guijarro Alvarez, production designer Sandra Smirle, and editor Peter Strauss." McElhone is represented by Samira Higham at Independent Talent Group and ICM Partners. Natasha McElhone leads Malta- set feature 'Carmen' On location in Valletta - from right to left - Valerie Buhagiar - director, Beppe Abela - first assistant director, Pierre Ellul - producer, Chris Bonello - location manager.