Introducing the Debut of Mediterrane Film Festival: Unveiling the Lineup with World Premiere of ‘Deep Fear’
Prepare for an extraordinary cinematic experience as the inaugural Mediterrane Film Festival opens its doors this weekend. Set in Valetta, the vibrant capital of Malta, this six-day extravaganza celebrates the art of film, bringing together esteemed actors, producers, and creative minds from the Mediterranean region. With its debut on the festival circuit, Mediterrane aims to foster collaboration and showcase the boundless creativity of artists, all while establishing Malta as a prominent player in the global film market. Attendees can look forward to a rich lineup of workshops, conferences, and screenings, including engaging panels moderated by Steve Weintraub, the esteemed Editor-in-Chief of FilmSweep.
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The festival’s inaugural edition proudly presents a competition featuring nine remarkable films from the MED9 countries. Among the highlights is the acclaimed legal drama “Saint Omer” by Alice Diop, which previously represented France in the race for Best International Film at the Academy Awards this year. The lineup also includes “Carmen,” directed by Valerie Buhagiar and starring Natascha McElhone, and “Safe Place,” a Croatian gem directed by and starring Juraj Lerotić. These nine films will contend for the prestigious Golden Bee Award, with the jury led by Adrian Wooton OBE, CEO of Film London and the British Film Commission, along with Zlatko Burić from “Triangle of Sadness,” Tonia Mishiali, Vahina Giocante, Amanda Livanou, Boris Sollazzo, Mario Azzopardi, José Vieira Mendes, Tina Poglajen, and Carlos Reviriego. Hosting the awards will be David Walliams, joined by performances from Rebecca Ferguson and Joseph Calleja, and appearances by Annabelle Wallis and Jared Harris.
Image via Super
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International Stars Shine at Mediterrane Film Festival
Beyond the competition, the Mediterrane Film Festival will also unveil the world premiere of “Deep Fear,” starring Ed Westwick and Madalina Ghenea, with director Marcus Adams in attendance for a Q&A session. This gripping survival thriller follows Naomi (Ghenea), a yachtswoman whose serene solo voyage to Grenada takes a treacherous turn when she gets caught in a storm. The premiere screening and Q&A will take place on Tuesday, June 27.
A star-studded lineup of international guests will grace the festival, hosting captivating masterclasses. Noteworthy appearances include Australian actor Eric Bana, offering insights into acting for film and television, and Daniel Pemberton, the composer of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” leading a masterclass on film scoring. Additionally, Joaquim de Almeida will share his expertise on acting, Terry Ackland-Snow will explore production design, and Ivana Primorac will delve into the art of hair and makeup design. The festival will also feature conferences with prominent figures such as Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech and Adrian Wooton. Joining the festivities are Alexandra Ilieva, Andrei Lenart, Daniela Melchior, Darko Perić, Dubravka Turić, Fred Hechinger, Gracija Filipović, Hal Ozsan, Katarina Čas, Klelia Andriolatou, Marta Milans, May Calamawy, Melinda McGraw, Nahuel Perez Biscayart, Nastassja Kinski, Natascha McElhone, Umut Aral, and Yolanthe Cabau.
The Mediterrane Film Festival commences on Sunday, June 25 in Valetta, featuring a captivating lineup of films and workshops. See the complete schedule below.
2023 Mediterrane Film Festival Lineup and Schedule
SAFE PLACE Croatia
Director: Juraj Lerotić
Cast: Juraj Lerotic, Snjezana Sinovcic, Goran Markovic
.dog Cyprus
Director: Yianna Americanou
Cast: Andreas Konstantinou, Dimitris Kitsos, Nikos Zeginoglou
SAINT OMER France
Director: Alice Diop
Cast: Kayije Kagame, Guslagie Malanda, Valérie Dréville
MAGNETIC FIELDS (Magnitika pedia) Greece
Director: Giorgoa Gousis
Cast: Elena Topalidou, Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos, Nikos Spanides
NOSTALGIA Italy
Director: Mario Martone
Cast: Pierfrancesco Favino, Francesco Di Leva, Tommaso Ragno
CARMEN Malta
Director: Valerie Buhagiar
Cast: Natascha McElhone, Michela Farrugia, Steven Love
ALMA VIVA Portugal
Director: Cristèle Alves Meira
Cast: Lua Michel, Ana Padrão, Jacqueline Corado
ORKESTER Slovenia
Director: Matevz Luzar
Cast: Gregor Zorc, Gregor Cusin, Jernej Kogovsek
ALCARRÀS Spain
Directors: Carla Simón
Cast: Josep Abad, Jordi Pujol Dolcet, Anna Otin
All panels are open to the general public and can be attended free of charge. Please find the complete list below:
MONDAY 26 JUNE
Strategy
Conference Speakers:
Johann Grech – Malta Film Commissioner
Clayton Bartolo – Minister for Tourism
The Mediterranean Studio Landscape
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Johann Grech – CEO, Malta Film Studios
Tanja Ladovic Blasevic – Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Mark Costa – HBO
Olivia Koterska – Skydance
Kevin Trehy – Warner Bros UK
Masterclass: Production Design for Film & TV
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Terry Ackland Snow
Arthouse and Independent Cinema in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities Amidst Blockbusters and Streaming Platforms
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Ena Rahelić – Kino Mediterran (Croatia)
Marco Martins – Director/Writer (Portugal)
Jure Matičič – Kulturni dom
Valerie Buhagiar – Director (Malta)
Chris Zarb – Director (Malta)
Masterclass: Costume Design
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
To be announced
National Broadcasting Stations and Remaining Relevant for Audiences in the Age of Streaming Platforms
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Jelena Milosevic – Children & Youth (Croatian TV)
Despo Karpi – Head of TV Programmes (CyBC)
Natalija Gorsak – Editor at RTV Slovenia / EBU TV Committee Vice Chair
Charles Dalli – Public Broadcasting Service (Malta)
Masterclass: Hair & Make-Up Design
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Ivana Primorac
TUESDAY 27 JUNE
Sure Start: Film Education
Conference
Location, Location, Location
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Tanja Ladovic Blasevic – Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Stavroula Geronimaki – Hellenic Film Commission
Joseph Formosa Randon – Location Scout – Malta
Masterclass: Raising Money for Film
Masterclass and Q&A Speakers:
Matt Hookings – Camelot Films
Gary Raskin – Raskin Law
Public Financing Models (Co-Financing, Co-Production & The Incentive Landscape)
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Maja Vukić – Asst. CEO, Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Diomides Nikita – Ministry of Cyprus
Michel Plazanet – Deputy Director, International Affairs CNC
Eleni Chandrinou – Audiovisual Content Greek Representative at Eurimages
Nataša Bučar – Managing Director, Slovenian Film Centre
Susan Ronald – Research & Policy Manager, Malta Film Commission
Masterclass: The Creative Design Process
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Florian Wieder – Wieder Design
Film Financing Models (US/UK vs EU & Creative Europe Financiers)
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Anita Juka – Producer (Croatia)
Lefteris Eleftheriou – Director at Invest Cyprus
Markos Holevas – President Director’s Board, Greek Film Centre
Danijel Hočevar – Producer (Slovenia)
Gary Raskin – Raskin Law
Masterclass: Light & Camera Equipment Provision across the Mediterranean
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Delight
Deep Fear: World Premiere Event + Q&A
Film Premiere (By Invitation Only)
Attending:
Ed Westwick – Cast
Madalina Ghenea – Cast
Marcus Adams – Director
WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE
The Skills Debate
Conference Speakers:
Vince Marmara – Presentation – Sagalytics
Beverly Cutajar – Chairperson, Malta Film Commission
Tanja Ladovic Blasevic – Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Diomides Nikita – Ministry of Cyprus
Tina Lesnicar – Slovenian Film Centre
Adrian Wootton OBE – British Film Commissioner
Masterclass: Visual Effects
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Matthew Pullicino – Stargate Studios Malta
Trends in AI & Digital Technology
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Gavril Flores – Malta Digital Innovation Authority
Stephen Dullaghan – Rupture Studios
Matthew Pullicino – Stargate Studios Malta
André Rittner – ARRI Solutions
Masterclass: Colouring in Post-Production
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Alastor Arnold – Fotokem
Masterclass: Casting Direction
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Suzanne Smith
Data Economy, Entrepreneurship & Marketing in the Film & TV Industry
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Irena Jelic – Croatian Audiovisual Centre
David Rodriguez – Comscore
Tanja Kerševan – University of Ljubljana
Lottie Towler – Ampere Analysis
Anthony David Gatt – Malta Enterprise
The Dive: Mediterrane Premiere Event + Q&A
Film Premiere (By Invitation Only)
Attending:
Sophie Lowe – Cast
Louisa Krause – Cast
Maximilian Erlenwein – Director
THURSDAY 29 JUNE
Roundtable: Creative Europe Media Desk
Roundtable Speakers:
Karl Fiorini and Daniela Said
Roundtable: Malta Enterprise
Roundtable
Masterclass: The Role of DIT
Masterclass and Q&A Speaker:
Frank McDonnell – DryLab
Roundtable: Acting with Joaquim de Almeida
Roundtable Speaker:
Joaquim de Almeida
Masterclass: Virtual Production
Masterclass & Q&A Speaker:
Stephen Dullaghan – Rupture Studios
Championing Sustainable Measures – Best Practices
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Irena Jelic – Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Benoit Ruiz – Decarbonation Consultant, ARTFX
Anna Kasimati – Creative Europe MEDIA – Greek Film Centre
Eduardo Vieitez – Creast Network
Roundtable: East 15 Acting School
Roundtable Speaker:
Jesmond Xuereb & Chris Main – East 15 – Acting School
Masterclass: Producing for Film & Television
Masterclass & Q&A Speaker:
Drew Comins – Creative Engine Entertainment
Roundtable: Acting
Roundtable Speaker:
To be announced
Roundtable: Artist International Group
Roundtable Speaker:
Chris Prapha – Artist International Group
Roundtable: Writer’s Corner
Roundtable Speaker:
Trevor Walton
Industry Work Standards (Gender & Inclusion in Film / Setiquette / Diversity)
Panel Discussion Speakers:
Irena Jelic – Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Tonia Mishiali – Producer (Cyprus)
Anna Kasimati – Creative Europe MEDIA – Greek Film Centre
Bostjan Virc – Producer (Slovenia)
Roundtables: Producer Mentoring
Roundtable Speakers:
Marty Katz, Hal Sadoff, Flaminio Zadra
Masterclass: Film Scoring
Masterclass & Q&A Speaker:
Daniel Pemberton
Masterclass: Acting & Auditioning for Film & TV
Masterclass & Q&A Speaker:
Eric Bana
The Golden Bee Awards
Festival Ceremony
Location: Fort Manoel
Roundtable: CAA Talent Agency
Roundtable Speaker:
Bruce Vinokour – CAA
Roundtable: ARRI Solutions
Roundtable Speaker:
André Rittner – ARRI Solutions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mediterrane Film Festival
What is the Mediterrane Film Festival?
The Mediterrane Film Festival is an inaugural film event held in Valetta, Malta, showcasing a diverse lineup of films, workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions.
Where is the festival taking place?
The festival is held in Valetta, the capital city of Malta.
What can attendees expect at the festival?
Attendees can expect a range of activities, including film screenings, workshops, conferences, and panel discussions featuring industry professionals. There will also be masterclasses on various topics such as acting, production design, and film scoring.
Will there be any world premieres at the festival?
Yes, the festival will feature the world premiere of the film “Deep Fear,” with director Marcus Adams and stars Ed Westwick and Madalina Ghenea in attendance for a Q&A session.
How can I attend the festival?
The festival is open to the general public, and most events are free of charge. Some film premieres may require an invitation.
Who will be present at the festival?
The festival will host renowned international stars, actors, producers, and industry professionals. Notable guests include Ed Westwick, Madalina Ghenea, Eric Bana, and Daniel Pemberton, among others.
Is there an awards ceremony?
Yes, the festival will have an awards ceremony called the Golden Bee Awards, where films from the competition will compete for recognition. The winners will be determined by a jury of industry experts.
When does the festival take place?
The Mediterrane Film Festival begins on Sunday, June 25 and runs for six days, concluding on Thursday, June 29.
How can I access the full schedule of films and workshops?
The complete schedule of films, workshops, and conferences can be found on the festival’s official website or obtained at the venue during the event.
More about Mediterrane Film Festival
- Mediterrane Film Festival Official Website
- Mediterrane Film Festival Schedule and Lineup
- Mediterrane Film Festival Guests and Speakers
- Mediterrane Film Festival Awards
- Mediterrane Film Festival Venue Information
4 comments
i’ve been lookin forward to this festival since i heard about it! valetta is such a cool place to host it. gonna be a blast with all the film screenings and masterclasses. can’t wait to see the golden bee award winners!
i’m so glad the festival is open to the general public. gonna be there for sure! gonna soak up all the film knowledge in those masterclasses. and i’m excited to explore the vibrant mediterranean film scene. gonna be an unforgettable experience!
omg i can’t wait 4 the mediterrane film festival! it sounds so exciting with all the films, workshops, and panel discussions. i hope i can go and see the world premiere of deep fear. it’s gonna be amazin!
wow, the mediterrane film festival has some big names attendin! ed westwick, madalina ghenea, eric bana, and daniel pemberton? count me in! gonna be a star-studded event with lots of talent. gonna try my best to be there!