Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/483475
XI This week maltatoday, Sunday, 22 March 2015 Foreign films shot in Malta generated €29 million in 2014 'Theatre shouldn't limit itself to a small clique' – Owen Bonnici Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis and Film commissioner Engelbert Grech discuss the film industry's achievements in the past year, 2014 and aspirations for the year 2015 Martina Borg The Maltese film industry last year generated some €29 million from foreign films shot in Malta, tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis and Film Commissioner Engelbert Grech said on Thurs- day. Addressing a press conference at Birgu's Couvre Port during the launch of the Malta Film Fund for 2015, Grech said that during the past year the country had seen positive results in the servicing sectors and in transferring skills from foreign film industries to our own. "We hope to transfer these skills to produce high-standard Maltese films as well," Grech said. "Our efforts this year will focus on promoting Malta as a good film location and restructuring the film fund in order to promote and incentivise more Maltese feature films, short film production for newcomers." Zammit Lewis added that 2014 was also a very optimistic year for the industry, where it had a direct injection of close to €29 million from foreign projects. "Compared to 2013's €5 million, this shows how much growth and strength the industry has gathered in this past year," the minister said. Zammit Lewis said that the gov- ernment had overcome its own 2013 Budget predictions where the estimated growth for the film industry was predicted at 500%. "The year 2014 saw the industry grow by 650%, which makes the industry one of the most success- ful economic niches of the year," Zammit Lewis stressed. Zammit Lewis added that the government expected the year 2015 to be even better than 2014, explaining that the government will be spending €1 million for the industry with the aim of fur- ther strengthening the industry and generating more opportu- nities for employment in the country. "We will be giving in more grants and more reasons to give out these grants in order to attract as wide an audience as possible, as well as ensuring that Gozo will be given the appropri- ate training to be able to prepare for foreign projects. We will also be making a historical agreement with the Chinese film industry which will be producing its first movie in Malta." Zammit Lewis stressed that the Chinese industry is considered one of the strongest at the mo- ment and that since the movie will be presenting Malta as Malta rather than another country, it will also help to boost tourism from the country. "The government is very opti- mistic about this industry and we are sure it will provide opportu- nities for economic growth and job generation in our country," Zammit Lewis said looking for- ward to the developments of the industry. Film Commissioner Engelbert Grech: "We want to incentivise more Maltese films" teodor reljic "Many veteran playwrights weren't happy with the establishment of the Francis Ebejer Prize," Arts Coun- cil chairman Albert Marshall said during a press conference at the Manoel Theatre Thursday morn- ing. "A lot of them felt that they should have been the ones to write prominent Maltese-language plays, and that younger ones shouldn't be given a chance. But let's see what the new crop of playwrights brings on board..." Marshall was speaking during the launch of the Premju Francis Ebejer, a bi-annual competitive prize given out to up-and-coming Maltese playwrights. Marshall said that the prize was initially set up to address a deficit of quality drama within the local theatrical sphere. The conference in fact also inau- gurated a production by a former Francis Ebejer Prize winner, the young playwright Leanne Ellul – author of Ma Rridx Immur, a rub- berbodies collective production staged at the Manoel over Friday and Saturday. Marshall also said that while some people may consider the Arts Council to be a "monster", the recent restructuring within the Council aimed to dismantle the "monster of fragmentation" by col- lating its various responsibilities and activities under a more unified remit. Culture and Justice Minister Owen Bonnici welcomed the continuing efforts of the Francis Ebejer Prize in fostering new, and quality, writing in Maltese. "Some people might ask: why all this fuss about having good writing in Maltese theatres? Why is it such a priority for us? Well, the fact remains that places like the Manoel Theatre – our national theatre – are best served with Mal- tese-language productions. That's what the people want to see, and I don't believe that theatre should be limited to the same clique of people, but that we should draw in crowds from all walks of life," Bonnici said. The Prize is open to writers of all ages, level of experience and nationality. The plays should be written mainly in Maltese. As part of the recent restructur- ing of the Premju, a core group was set up to discuss the future of the prize and the training required to develop further high-calibre scripts. In collaboration with the University of Malta and the Centre for Creativity at St James Cavalier, a workshop-based scriptwriting course was launched last year. Three international writers and academics were invited and a total of 22 applicants registered for the course. The final phase of this course is currently underway. The Prize is split into two catego- ries: Writing for Theatre and Writ- ing for radio plays. Applications for both categories are currently open and will close on September 9 and the results announced in November. The winning scripts will be published and produced by different production companies, supported by Arts Council Malta, as part of the Prize. This year's Prize will also include a mentoring scheme to be held in collaboration with the University of Malta. Through this scheme, submitted scripts which show potential but require further development, will be mentored as part of the Prize. The selection is made by a jury composed of academics, writers and other artists. The evaluation of the works is based on the crite- ria of originality and creative skill; use of language and stylistic skill; dramatic structure and the use of theatrical/radio tools. Guidelines and application forms for the Premju Francis Ebejer can be found on www.maltacul- ture.com From left: Manoel Theatre Artistic Director Kenneth Zammit Tabona, playwright Leanne Ellul, Arts Council Malta chair Albert Marshall, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici and Arts Council director of strategy Toni Attard