31/01/2022 - The first edition of the event, hosted by popular British comedian and writer David Walliams, celebrated 100 years of the country’s film industry

It’s a wrap for the inaugural edition of the Malta Film Awards. The event, held on 29 January and hosted by British comedian-actor-writer David Walliams, was organised by the Malta Film Commission as part of the brand-new Malta Film Week, an industry event (24-29 January).

The gala took place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre and was live-broadcast by local pubcaster TVM. Envisioned as a celebration of 100 years of the archipelago’s film industry, the prestigious gathering saw the triumph of Winston Azzopardi’s The Boat [+see also:
trailer
film profile], crowned Best Film. The feature, starring Joe Azzopardi, follows a lone fisherman encountering a seemingly abandoned yacht in an eerie fog bank and thus facing “the most inexplicable and terrifying nightmare”. For his work on The Boat, Polish DoP Marek Traskowski won the Award for Best Cinematography.

The other big victor of this year’s edition was Davide Ferrario’s Blood on the Crown, a Maltese-Canadian-US co-production starring Harvey Keitel and Malcolm McDowell, with veteran British filmmaker Roland Joffé serving as the executive producer. The period drama is based on the “Sette Giugno” events of 1919, when, following a series of riots by the local population, British troops fired into the crowd, killing four people. The tragedy led to increased resistance to the colonial government and support for the pro-Italian irredentists that had challenged the British presence on the island. The movie took home six prizes in total – Best Score, Best Hair and Make-up Design, Best Screenplay, Best Leading Actor (bestowed upon the legendary Harvey Keitel), Best Director and Best Post-production.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Best Film
The Boat [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Winston Azzopardi (Malta)

Best Classic Film
Scrooge – Tony Parnis (Malta)

Best Score
Alexey Shor and Laurent Eyquem – Blood on the Crown (Malta/Canada/USA)

Best Hair and Make-up Design
Christian Kotey and Jannie Stax – Blood on the Crown

Best Location Award
Fort Ricasoli

Best Production Design
Mela Melak – Blood on the Crown

Best Short Film
The Maltese Fighter – Arev Manoukian (Malta)

Best Documentary
Pass Pass Għal Auschwitz – Jonathan Farrugia (Malta)

Best Screenplay
Jean Pierre Magro – Blood on the Crown

Best TV Series
L-Għarusa (Malta)

Best Classic TV Series
Għeruq (Malta)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Narcy Calamatta – Ħabbilni Ħa Nirbaħ (Malta)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Sarah Camilleri – L-Ispettur (Malta)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Harvey Keitel – Blood on the Crown

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Louise Doneo – Weeping House of Qala (Malta)

Best Director
Davide Ferrario – Blood on the Crown

Best Post-production
Pedja Miletic, Claudio Cormio, Vito Martinelli, Aaron Briffa and Nikita Argunov – Blood on the Crown

Best Costume Design
Angelle Farrugia and Audrey Brincat Dalli – L-Għarusa (Malta) and Strada Stretta (Malta)

Best Cinematography
Marek Traskowski – The Boat

Crew Recognition Award
Ino Bonello

Malta Film Ambassador Award
Ridley Scott

Malta Film Industry Honorary Award
Russell Crowe

Lifetime Achievement Award
Mario Philip Azzopardi

Malta Film Commissioner’s Award
Colin Trevorrow