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2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 FILM ISLAND of Oblivion, a film by Maltese director Jamie Vella, will have its world premiere in competition at the Prishtina International Film Festival in Kosovo on Saturday, 13 Septem- ber 2025. Based on Homer's The Od- yssey, the film is a revisionist retelling of the chapter set on Ogygia, the mythical island where Odysseus is held by the nymph Calypso. Through the centuries, this island has often been identified as Gozo, with "Calypso's Cave" overlooking Ramla Bay as its legendary site. "The film takes a personal and humanist approach to the myth, exploring the timeless themes of individualism, memory, love, and the struggle between duty and selfishness. Odysseus be- ing immersed by a comfortable world of love and tranquility, yet challenged by the burden of memory." said Vella. "With Island of Oblivion I wanted to explore the more hu- mane aspect of the poem's main hero, that of a man who has lost himself to the world, with frag- mented memory the only kindle to ignite back his identity - amid the genuine love and bliss of Calypso and her mythic Island" said Vella. "Building this world with a very limited budget required imag- ination, but also the dedication of an extraordinary team of ac- tors, crew, and local craftspeo- ple who brought their artistry to every frame." The international cast features Italian actor Alberto Brosio as Odysseus and Spanish actress Ariadna Cabrol as Calypso, alongside Paul Portelli as Cap- tain Eurylochus and Jacqui Los- co as Penelope. A co-production between Vel- la's company Wild Skies and Malta's established film produc- tion company Pellikola, the film is produced by Oliver Mallia and Jamie Vella, with the support of the financial incentives provided by the Malta Film Commission. Commenting on the film's launch, producer Oliver Mallia said: "We are very grateful for the selection of Island of Oblivion at the Prishtina International Film Festival. Showcasing Maltese stories on an international stage is always an honour, and work- ing with emerging filmmak- ers like Jamie is essential for the evolution of our cine- ma. This film gave us the chance to explore new cre- ative ground while celebrat- ing the artistry of our cast, crew, and local craftspeo- ple. It's through this spirit of collaboration that Mal- tese cinema will continue to grow its own distinctive voice." Vella's first film, Arcadia (2017), was a socially con- scious short about a father and son seeking peace in Malta's countryside, only to have their dream upended by aggressive development. The film reflected on environ- mental change, corruption, and the indifference of nature to hu- man frailties. It premiered at the Valletta Film Festival and was screened internationally. Mallia's producing credits in- clude the award-winning films Shame on Dry Land (2023) and Luzzu (2021). His company Pel- likola has been active for over 15 years, producing original works and servicing international pro- ductions in Malta. Its upcoming slate of original films includes the feature films Żejtune and Burbank Syndrome. Behind the camera, Island of Oblivion showcases the strength of Maltese talent: Matthew En- vin Taylor as Director of Pho- tography, Luke Azzopardi as Costume Designer, Sean Vella composing the original score, Charlo Dalli leading Produc- tion Design, Marcelle Genovese heading Hair Design, and Chan- tal Busuttil designing Make-up. The 17th edition of the Prishti- na International Film Festival takes place between 9–14 Sep- tember 2025. It is one of the few festivals in the Mediterranean region to feature a dedicated competition for medium-length films with lengths between 40 and 60 minutes. Following its international pre- miere, Island of Oblivion will have its first screening in Malta on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, at Eden Cinemas, St. Julian's. Island of Oblivion to premiere at Prifest - Prishtina International Film Festival