The first edition of the Malta India Film Festival opens to a stellar evening at the iconic Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC), Valletta, attended by dignitaries of the Government, filmmakers from across the world and leading Indian film director, writer and Festival juror, Mr Vijay Krishna Acharya along with a special screening of his latest Indian blockbuster – ‘Thugs of Hindostan’

The festival, a first of its kind, received a huge response of over 40 films with either a Maltese or Indian element spanning feature films, documentaries and short films. Over 24 films from these will be screened over the weekend of December 14, 15, 16 at St James Cavalier in Valletta. Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Malta, the endeavour and the vision of this Festival is to build a creative bridge between Malta and India, encouraging art, culture and entertainment between both countries.

Mr Engelbert Grech, Juror and Director of Malta India Film Festival shared his thoughts, “There is a packed programme of events with a total of 26 films. From Malta, we have a good line-up of 6 local films, which show that in Malta the art of filmmaking is continuously developing. This is just the beginning of a new adventure.  The main aim of the festival is to bring together two different cultures, and offer the opportunity to filmmakers from both Malta and India to collaborate even further.”

Vijay Krishna Acharya and Engelbert Grech (www.jciappara.com)

Vijay Krishna Acharya and Michelle Muscat (www.jciappara.com)

Honourable Minister of Tourism, Malta, Mr Konrad Mizzi added, “We are so excited that we can finally see the Malta India Film Festival come to reality following Malta’s partnership with so many iconic films, including ‘Thugs of Hindostan’, which is being screened today and has paved the path for Indian blockbuster cinema in Malta. This fantastic initiative of Streamcast Studios, I am sure, is only the beginning of a new growth dimension for the Indian film industry in Malta and vice-versa.”

Mr Vijay Krishna Acharya, India’s topmost film director was heard saying ‘I can live in Malta!’ Malta holds a very special place in his heart which was evident as he shared, “Malta is a great filming location with beautiful scenery and robust capabilities. However, like I always believe, it’s the people that make a place memorable and I have genuinely had the most fantastic experience working with the Maltese people. I am so thrilled to be back on this lovely island, this time as a juror of this solid initiative of the Festival which has an excellent line-up of some really good films. And to have ‘Thugs of Hindostan’ filmed at this very Island, in a way, feels like a homecoming.”

The Malta India Film Festival, an initiative of the Malta India Film Academy, is the first of its kind platform for film-makers across the world to showcase and share their work. The winners will be granted a total prize of Euros 200,000. The shortlisted films are being screened for public viewing on 14, 15, 16 December 2018 in Valletta, Malta and simultaneously in Mumbai, India on December 15 and 16, 2018.

For more details, visit mifaa.com.