As Malta marks a century since the island hosted its first feature film, Sons of the Sea (1925), the third edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival (21-29 June, Valletta) rises to the occasion with an ambitious programme of screenings, master classes and industry events, all unfolding under this year’s theme: We Are Film.

Under the guidance of newly appointed festival director Ray Calleja and curator Mark Adams, the 2025 edition promises not only a celebration of Malta’s cinematic heritage, but also a bold step forward, spotlighting urgent narratives and emerging voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond. The main competition brings together ten feature films, a showcase of cross-border collaborations and culturally layered storytelling.

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Among the highlights in competition is The Theft of the Caravaggio by Maltese director Joshua Cassar Gaspar, a fictional mystery-thriller inspired by the real-life 1984 disappearance of Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome Writing from St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Other contenders include The Return [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Uberto Pasolini, Hot Milk [+lee también:
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entrevista: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
ficha de la película] by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, For the Love of a Woman [+lee también:
entrevista: Guido Chiesa
ficha de la película] by Guido Chiesa, Harvest [+lee también:
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entrevista: Athina Rachel Tsangari
ficha de la película] by Athina Rachel Tsangari, Where the Wind Comes From [+lee también:
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entrevista: Amel Guellaty
ficha de la película] by Amel Guellaty, Fiume o Morte! [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Igor Bezinović, The Wound by Seloua El Gouni, Reflection in a Dead Diamond [+lee también:
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entrevista: Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forz…
ficha de la película] by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, and 8 [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Julio Medem.

Beyond the competition, the festival offers a diverse global line-up in its out-of-competition section, where notable names such as Ira Sachs (Peter Hujar’s Day [+lee también:
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ficha de la película]) and Mouly Surya (This City Is a Battlefield [+lee también:
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ficha de la película]) broaden the festival’s scope. The Mare Nostrum strand continues to address ecological concerns and inspire collective action through cinematic storytelling. Highlights include Only on Earth [+lee también:
entrevista: Robin Petré
entrevista: Robin Petré
ficha de la película] by Robin Petré, Transamazonia [+lee también:
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entrevista: Pia Marais
ficha de la película] by Pia Marais and Miyazaki: Spirit of Nature by Léo Favier, among others.

The festival juries bring together leading figures from across the audiovisual landscape. The Golden Bee Competition jury includes Oscar-winning production designer Rick Carter, costume designer Charlese Antoinette, set decorator Elli Griff, director Catherine Hardwicke, production designer James Price and Maltese filmmaker Mario Philip Azzopardi. Meanwhile, the Mare Nostrum jury will be led by Dublin International Film Festival artistic director Gráinne Humphreys and Sundance senior programmer Ania Trzebiatowska. The Golden Bee Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to veteran British producer Jeremy Thomas in recognition of his contribution to independent cinema.

On the industry front, Fort Ricasoli – a 400-year-old bastion with cinematic ties of its own – will host a series of talks and master classes. Filmmakers Joe Carnahan and Catherine Hardwicke will lead Lessons in Filmmaking, while composer Martin Phipps and production designer Rick Carter will offer behind-the-scenes insights into their acclaimed careers.

Festival director Ray Calleja emphasised the dual mission of the event: “As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we’re honoured to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity and global reach of contemporary cinema. Together with our festival curator, Mark Adams, we’re committed to shaping a programme that not only honours Malta’s cinematic past, but also champions bold, new voices.”