The Mediterranean Film Festival in Malta is set to make its third appearance, showcasing an impressive lineup of over 40 films representing more than 20 nations. Scheduled from June 21 to 29 in Valletta, the island’s historic capital, this year’s edition features a diverse array of programming across its Competition, Out of Competition, and Mare Nostrum segments.
Highlights of the Competition section include Uberto Pasolini’s “The Return,” featuring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche; Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s debut as a director with “Sizzling Milk”; Guido Chiesa’s “For the Love of a Girl” (Per amore di una donna); Athina Rachel Tsangari’s “Harvest”; and Maltese filmmaker Joshua Cassar Gaspar’s “The Theft of the Caravaggio.”
Special screenings outside the competition will present Ira Sachs’ “Peter Hujar’s Day,” starring Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall; the Maltese-plot erotic thriller “Compulsion” by Neil Marshall; “Four Letters of Love,” featuring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gabriel Byrne; and “Time Scamper is Hazardous,” narrated by Stephen Fry.
Official Selections Announced
A dedicated segment in collaboration with FilmItalia will honor pioneering Italian women filmmakers, including selections like “Diva Futura,” “Gloria!,” and “Love and Glory – The Long Deledda.”
The Mare Nostrum section, translating to “Our Sea,” returns with six films addressing climate change and environmental issues, alongside titles such as “Lowland Childhood,” “How Deep is Your Love,” and “Transamazonia.”
Esteemed jury members including Elli Griff, Rick Carter, and Catherine Hardwicke may participate in masterclasses throughout the festival, alongside industry figures like director Joe Carnahan, producer Jeremy Thomas, and Glenn Gainor, head of physical production at Amazon Studios.
The festival’s closing event, the Golden Bee Awards on June 29, will celebrate a century of cinema in Malta, hosted at the historic 18th-century Citadel Manoel. Led by Festival Director Ray Calleja and Curator Model Adams, this year’s theme is “We Are Film.”
Below is the complete film program:
MAIN COMPETITION
The Return (dir. Uberto Pasolini)
Uberto Pasolini’s “The Return” reunites Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, echoing the classic “The English Patient.” This poignant retelling of Homer’s Odyssey follows Odysseus (Fiennes) as he returns after twenty years to a changed Ithaca. Disguised and battered, he must navigate a treacherous landscape of suitors and political upheaval to reclaim his throne and family, rediscovering strength and purpose along the way.
Sizzling Milk (dir. Rebecca Lenkiewicz)
Based on Deborah Levy’s acclaimed novel, this directorial debut explores the strained relationship between Sofia and her ailing mother, Rose, as they seek healing in Almería, Spain. Amidst unresolved tensions, Sofia encounters Ingrid, a free-spirited woman whose magnetic presence challenges her perceptions and opens new emotional pathways.
For the Love of a Girl (Per amore di una donna) (dir. Guido Chiesa)
This compelling story centers on a resilient woman concealing a painful past, navigating love and loss while confronting her inner demons. Guido Chiesa’s narrative emphasizes strength and vulnerability in the face of adversity.
Harvest (dir. Athina Rachel Tsangari)
Tsangari’s “Harvest” depicts a rural community on the brink of collapse as outsiders threaten its existence. Over seven surreal days, a village dissolves into myth, symbolizing the trauma of modernity and environmental decay, with characters Walter Thirsk and Charles Kent confronting the encroaching chaos.
Theft of the Caravaggio (dir. Joshua Cassar Gaspar)
Set in Valletta, this mystery follows Orpheus as he witnesses the theft of a priceless Caravaggio from St. John’s Cathedral. A detective from Washington arrives to assist local authorities, unraveling a complex web of art, history, and intrigue.
The Wind Comes From (dir. Amel Guellaty)
Guellaty’s debut feature narrates the journey of Alyssa and Mehdi, two rebellious youths dreaming of escape. Their quest leads them across southern Tunisia, confronting societal barriers and personal fears in a cinematic celebration of resilience and hope.
Fiume o Morte! (dir. Igor Bezinovic)
Winner of the 2025 Tiger Award at IFFR, this documentary reimagines the 1919 occupation of Fiume by Gabriele D’Annunzio’s forces. Through archival footage and community participation, Bezinovic reconstructs this extraordinary siege, reflecting on its lasting impact on the city’s identity.
The Hurt (dir. Seloua El Gouni)
Leila, a young Moroccan woman, strives to forge her path amid societal constraints. Her journey explores themes of tradition, gender roles, and personal ambition, earning her the Best Debut Feature at the Athens International Film Festival.
Reflection in a Dead Diamond (dir. Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani)
John D., a retired man living on the French Riviera, becomes obsessed with his mysterious neighbor, recalling the tumultuous 1960s. When she vanishes, he must confront his past and the chaos lurking beneath his tranquil facade.
8 (dir. Julio Medem)
Spanning eight episodes, this romantic saga follows Octavio and Adela, born on the same day in 1931. Their intertwined lives unfold against the backdrop of Spain’s civil war, exploring love, conflict, and identity across generations.
nikos nikolopoulos
OUT OF COMPETITION SELECTIONS
Peter Hujar’s Day (dir. Ira Sachs)
This film offers a cinematic reconstruction of a 1974 conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and writer Linda Rosenkrantz, set within a single day. Starring Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall, it captures the essence of Hujar’s uncompromising artistry and his pivotal role in New York’s vibrant art scene of the 70s and 80s.
Compulsion (dir. Neil Marshall)
Set on the island of Malta, this intense thriller explores the dangerous affair between two women, intertwined with a series of brutal murders and a deadly game of deception.
Four Letters of Love (dir. Polly Steele)
An adaptation of Niall William’s bestseller, featuring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gabriel Byrne. The story follows Nicholas and Isabel, destined for each other but torn apart by family, faith, and personal struggles, before fate intervenes to unite them in a miraculous reunion.
Time Scamper is Dangerous
Based on true events, this British comedy features Ruth and Megan, friends who discover a vintage store’s secret-a time machine. Their adventures into the past are humorous and chaotic, narrated by Stephen Fry, with a star-studded cast including Johnny Vegas and Jane Horrocks.
The Extraordinary Bound Over Flower (dir. Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard)
This hybrid film-theatre piece recounts the story of Geraldine Flower and her discovery of passionate love letters from the 60s and 70s, inspiring Icelandic singer Emilíana Torrini to create a new album. Combining performance, drama, and music, it explores the power of memory and artistic inspiration.
The Wedding Banquet (dir. Andrew Ahn)
A heartfelt reimagining of the 1993 comedy, this film explores a family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and expectations through a marriage of convenience. Featuring a diverse cast including Lily Gladstone, it celebrates love, forgiveness, and the complexity of family bonds.
Diva Futura (dir. Giulia Louise Steigerwalt)
Set in 1980s-90s Italy, this documentary chronicles Riccardo Schicchi’s pioneering company that transformed free love into adult entertainment, launching stars like Ilona Staller and Moana Pozzi, and influencing politics and culture.
Gloria! (dir. Margherita Vicario)
This vibrant musical film reimagines 18th-century Venice, where young women in a convent harness their musical talents to challenge societal constraints. Centered on Teresa, a gifted but unsung musician, the story blends history with a rebellious pop spirit, culminating in a musical uprising.
Love and Glory – The Young Deledda (dir. Maria Grazia Perria)
In her directorial debut, Perria offers a compelling biopic of Grazia Deledda, the first Italian woman Nobel laureate in Literature. Portrayed with passion by Marisa Serra, the film explores her early life and creative struggles in Sardinia.
The Ballad of Wallis Island (dir. James Griffiths)
Charles, an eccentric lottery winner living alone on a remote island, dreams of assembling his favorite musicians for a private concert. When they accept his invitation, old tensions resurface, testing his resolve to realize his musical fantasy.
This City is a Battlefield (Perang Kota) (dir. Mouly Surya)
Set during Indonesia’s colonial era, Isa, a resistance teacher, plans an assassination with Hazil, a revolutionary. Their relationship complicates as Hazil falls for Isa’s partner, Fatimah, blending romance with political upheaval in a vivid historical tableau.
About a Hero (dir. Piotr Winiewicz)
Following the mysterious death of a factory worker, Werner Herzog investigates in Getunkirchenburg, but the story twists as Herzog’s own identity and motives come into question. Based on an AI-generated script, the film reflects on themes of authenticity, mortality, and the essence of art, featuring Vicky Krieps and Stephen Fry.
MARE NOSTRUM: Environmental Perspectives
How Deep is Your Love (dir. Eleanor Mortimer)
Exploring the depths of the ocean, scientists discover new species thriving in darkness, but face the threat of deep-sea mining. Mortimer’s film balances awe with ecological concern, prompting viewers to consider the true value of our love for the planet’s hidden ecosystems.
Transamazonia (dir. Pia Marais)
Set in the lush Amazon rainforest, this story follows Rebecca, a girl rescued from a plane crash by indigenous tribes. As she matures, her doubts about her faith healer father grow, especially as illegal logging endangers her community. Marais crafts a poetic coming-of-age tale intertwined with environmental and cultural conflicts.
Dark Butterflies (dir. David Baute)
Through the personal stories of women from different continents-Tanit, Valeria, and Shaila-Baute’s documentary highlights the devastating impact of climate change, illustrating how rising temperatures threaten their homes and force migration.
Hayao Miyazaki: Spirit of Nature (dir. Léo Favier)
This documentary delves into the life and works of legendary Japanese animator Miyazaki, emphasizing his passion for environmental themes and his advocacy for preserving the natural world through beloved films like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away.”
Finest on Earth (dir. Robin Petré)
In Galicia, Spain, wild horses have long played a vital role in preventing forest fires. As their numbers decline, Petré’s visually stunning film captures the delicate balance between human activity, wildlife, and fire prevention during the region’s most intense summer fire season on record.
Lowland Childhood (dir. Sandra Winther)
Documenting the plight of the last residents of Louisiana’s Isle de Jean Charles, this film portrays their struggle as rising seas threaten their ancestral home. Directed by Sandra Winther and produced by Darren Aronofsky, it highlights climate displacement and resilience in the face of environmental catastrophe.
