Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1538262
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 8 AUGUST 2025 CULTURE THE Gozo Film Festival opens on 22 Au- gust at the Cittadella in Gozo, launching a free three-day celebration of cinema. The programme includes feature films, short films, animations, workshops, and a dedicated kids' section. Attendees can ex- plore filmmaking through hands-on activ- ities and enjoy a curated selection of local and international productions. The opening night features a short film segment at 8.30pm, with entries from Ec- uador, Malta, Georgia, and more (80 mins, age 15+), followed by the Maltese come- dy-drama Ciao Ciao at 10pm (90 mins, age 15+). The programme for 23 August includes a morning children's screening, a hands- on workshop on visual storytelling led by director Abigail Mallia, and a series of short films in the evening. The day concludes with a screening of the Maltese crime drama Castillo (2024), followed by a Q&A session with the director. The event is open to the public and of- fers a mix of entertainment and learn- ing opportunities for all ages. The festival concludes on 24 August with a full day of free activities and screenings. The programme includes a morning workshop for children aged 5–11, fea- turing short films and a behind-the- scenes session. A teen workshop on acting and filmmaking led by director Adam Zurawiecki runs from late morn- ing to afternoon. The evening features a family-friend- ly short film segment followed by the animated adventure film Flow (Latvia, 2024), suitable for all audiences. Gozo Film Festival to feature films, short films, animations, workshops and kids' section Three international feature movies headlining the Gozo Film Festival TOTAL outbound tourists for the sec- ond quarter in 2025 were estimated at 208,988, an increase of 11.6 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2024. Total nights spent increased by 23.9 per cent and amounted to 1,493,684. April – June 2025 During the quarter under review, a total of 135,788 outbound tourist trips were undertaken for holiday purposes, followed by 46,813 trips for visiting friends and relatives. Most outbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44 years (44.6 per cent), followed by those within the 45- 64 age bracket (31.1 per cent). Outbound tourists towards EU and non-EU countries increased by 10.8 and 14.1 per cent respectively, when compared to the same quarter of 2024. Italy remained the most popular des- tination, with a share of 37.9 per cent of total tourist trips. Total nights spent by outbound tourists in the second quarter of 2025 reached 1.5 million nights. The largest share of guest nights (51.6 per cent) was spent in non-rent- ed accommodation establishments). The average length of stay of total out- bound tourists stood at 7.1 nights. Total estimated expenditure by out- bound tourists between April and June stood at €206.3 million, equivalent to an average of €987 per capita. January-June 2025 Total outbound tourist trips in 2025 numbered 390,391, an increase of 6.1 per cent over 2024. Total nights spent by outbound tour- ists went up by 16.8 per cent, reaching 2.8 million nights. In addition, total estimated outlay by resident tourists stood at €377.5 mil- lion, 14.5 per cent higher than that re- corded in 2024. Total outbound tourists in second quarter of 2025 estimated at 208,988 Total nights spent increased by 23.9 per cent and amounted to 1,493,684 • Italy remains the most popular destination Total expenditure per capita (left) and per night (right) by outbound tourists by year