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8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 JULY 2025 CULTURE Maltese short film Stations of the Cross takes top prize at LA film festival IN a major triumph for independ- ent Maltese cinema, the short film Stations of the Cross, directed by Aleksa Ristovic, has won Best Experimental Film at this year's Hard Faith™ Film Festival in Los Angeles. Filmed entirely on location in Gozo, beside the revered Ta' Pinu sanctuary, the film has captivated international audiences with its meditative visuals, minimalist sto- rytelling, and profound spiritual depth. The award marks a career high for Ristovic, a Serbia-born filmmaker who has called Malta home for over a decade. Held annually in California, the Hard Faith Film Festival cele- brates bold, transformative works that explore spirituality, endur- ance, and inner transformation. Stations of the Cross was one of a select few international final- ists, earning its U.S. premiere alongside entries from around the globe. "This is a deeply personal victo- ry," said Ristovic. "This film wasn't made with funding or a crew of dozens. It was made with convic- tion, with the spirit of Gozo, and with the belief that small stories can reach far." The win comes after an impres- sive international festival run. Stations of the Cross has already received multiple accolades, in- cluding: • Best International Short at the Washington DC Inter- national Cinema Festival • Best Religion & Faith Short Film at the Roma Short Film Festival • A national television broad- cast on TVM during Holy Week 2025 • Selection at several Canadi- an Screen Award-qualifying festivals • Entry into the BAF- TA-qualifying Carmarthen Bay Film Festival • Screenings across Europe, Russia, Canada, and South Africa What sets Stations of the Cross apart is its unconventional ap- proach to religious themes. With almost no dialogue, the film fol- lows a symbolic journey of suf- fering and redemption. The stark Gozitan landscape becomes a character of its own, reflecting the interior life of the protagonist. Ristovic, who traveled to Los Angeles entirely self-funded and without institutional support, represented Malta on his own terms. "I feel amazing," he shared. "I didn't expect to win, but after the screening, when the audience nearly gave a standing ovation, I felt deeply encouraged. I loved the people I met. There's a strong community here that welcomed and supported my filmmaking." This marks the director's fifth and final short film, as he now looks toward the next chapter: "This is the end of a phase for me. My next step is to begin work- ing on my first feature film. Some of the filmmakers I met in the U.S. were genuinely impressed by my work, and I've already start- ed conversations about potential collaborations with U.S.-based productions." Ristovic also took a moment to dedicate the award: "I dedicate this award to my daughter, Doroteja. And I sin- cerely thank everyone who sup- ported me, especially my wife, Tania. Without her generous support, none of this would have been possible." He extended a special thanks to the Hard Faith Film Festival team and its director Spencer Folmar, who welcomed him into the world of faith-based cinema: "I didn't know anything about this genre before. But Spen- cer and the whole festival team opened the door for me, and I'm grateful." Cast: • Aleksa Ristovic • Tiana Formosa • Doroteja Ristovic • Thomas Anderson Music by Santiago Bianchi With Stations of the Cross now recognised on the world stage, Ristovic stands as one of Mal- ta's most successful independent filmmakers—proof that stories rooted in silence, spirituality, and place can echo across the globe. ELAINE Mifsud's upcoming first solo exhibition will take place at Gemelli Art Gallery, ta' Qali from the 12-24th Septem- ber, and is curated by the artist Fabio Borg. The title of this exhi- bition is REALMS OF COLOUR and seeks to take the viewer to another world, another space and dimension, a world full of colour. Through this body of work the artist aims to evoke a sense of otherworldliness in the viewers, to stir inner emotions, feel an overall sense of positiv- ity and for a while, experience the REALMS that she visits each time she is immersed in her own world of colours. "It has been a true pleasure to accompany Elaine Mifsud on her artistic journey over the past two years. As her mentor and curator, I've seen her grow, challenge herself, and ultimate- ly carve out a unique visual lan- guage that is entirely her own. Elaine works in a bold abstract idiom, using vibrant colours to evoke mood, motion, and emotion. Her canvases are alive with energy, not just in their composition, but in their in- tention. They speak a language beyond form, inviting viewers to go beyond the literal, to feel rather than interpret. When we first met, I offered her a simple provocation: "Everyone knows the trees are green and the sky is blue." I wanted to see what she would do with that idea and she ran with it. She embraced the challenge, ques- tioned con- vention, and began to ex- plore what lies beyond the obvi- ous. The re- sult is a body of work that doesn't just rep- resent the world, but reimagines it. Elaine's art encourages us to dream. Her works are open spaces — REALMS where the viewer can wander, wonder, and redis- cover the joy of imagination. Mifsud's first solo exhibition is a celebration of that journey: of risk-taking, discovery, and the courage to see the world differ- ently," artist and curator Fabio Borg said. REALMS OF COLOUR: First solo exhibition by Elaine Mifsud