Malta’s Mediterrane Film Festival, which runs from 22-30 June, has unveiled the full line-up for its second edition under the theme “Unity through Film”.

“This year’s selection of films will demonstrate our commitment to fostering a programme that celebrates the best of cinema from the Mediterranean and beyond. We have some incredible directors and creatives in this line-up already, spanning established and emerging talent, and the selection will offer something for all audiences – from expansive international dramas to captivating psychological horrors and emotional human stories from around the world,” said the festival’s artistic director, Teresa Cavina.

Johann Grech, Malta’s film commissioner, noted: “Now, more than ever, it is crucial to promote dialogue and understanding between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. That’s why I am delighted that competing for this year’s Golden Bee Awards will be films from countries new to the festival – Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Jordan. They will be locking horns alongside returning nations like Italy and Croatia.”

The festival includes four programming strands: In Competition (featuring films from across the Mediterranean), Out of Competition (movies from the rest of the world), Mare Nostrum (or “Our Sea”, showcasing narrative and documentary films dedicated to sustainability and the environment) and a selection of experimental VR projects in Future Visions. Yorgos Lanthimos’s triptych Kinds of Kindness [+lee también:
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ficha de la película], Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane’s Backstage [+lee también:
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ficha de la película], Daina O Pusić´s Tuesday, Ena Sendijarević´s Sweet Dreams [+lee también:
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entrevista: Ena Sendijarević
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ficha de la película], Sarah Gyllenstierna’s Hunters on a White Field [+lee también:
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entrevista: Anna Cornudella
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Independent interactive story architect Michel Reilhac curates the Future Visions programme, centring on immersive virtual-reality projects spanning different forms, including 360-degree videos, VR standalones and immersive installations. The selection includes The Imaginary Friend by Steye Hallema from the Netherlands, an intimate VR experience where users interact with an eight-year-old boy's vivid imagination, and Elele by Sjoerd van Acker, also from the Netherlands, offering a sensory dance experience. Additionally, the programme features Tales from Soda Island by Simone Fougnier from the UK, exploring the balance between music and silence; the UK-French co-production Wallace and Gromit: The Grand Getaway by Finbar Hawkins, Bram Ttwheam and Lawrence Bennett, a new VR adventure with the beloved characters; and Empereur by Marion Burger and Ilan Cohen from France, an exploration of a father's mind as he suffers from aphasia.

The industry programme will feature master classes from Nathan Crowley (on creating distinct cinematic environments), Margery Simkin (on forging careers in casting) and Adrian Wootton (celebrating David Bowie's multifaceted career). Oscar-nominated editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis will discuss the art of editing; Mike Leigh, the winner of the inaugural Golden Bee Award for Lifetime Achievements in Cinema, will share insights into his unique filmmaking approach; and Simon Franglen will reveal the secrets behind his cinematic scores. The various panels will cover topics such as the cultural connections between Europe and the Mediterranean, the journey from script to screen, the dynamics of film circulation, and co-production in the Mediterranean. Additional panels will explore storytelling trends, screen tourism, advancements in VR and AR technologies, and innovations in the animation industry.

The full line-up is available to peruse here.