Imagine standing at the crossroads of time, where the whispers of an 8,000-year-old past mingle with the hum of a sustainable future—all unfolding before your eyes in a breathtaking dance of light, sound, and story. This is the magic that the team at interactive software studio Wevr had the privilege of crafting for Malta Enterprise at the Osaka World Expo 2025. It’s a project that stole their hearts, blending their love for immersive storytelling with cutting-edge technology to share the soul of an island nation with the world.
Here’s how they did it—and why it’s one of their proudest moments yet.
A challenge worthy of Malta’s legacy
“Malta isn’t just a place,” said Neville Spiteri, Co-Founder, and CEO. “It’s a tapestry woven from millennia of history, a vibrant present, and a bold vision for tomorrow. When Malta Enterprise described their ambitions for the pavilion for the Expo, they didn’t just want a structure—they wanted an experience that would capture Malta’s essence and share it with a global audience.”
“Josephine Farrugia, Deputy Commissioner General Expo Osaka and Chief Officer Freezones Malta Enterprise, outlined the theme, Catch the Wave: an island nation shaped by the sea, riding waves of opportunity through time while embracing a sustainable future where ‘no green exists without blue.’ It was a challenge that lit a fire in us: how do you distill 8,000 years of resilience, culture, and ambition into an unforgettable moment?”
Stepping up as storytellers and innovators
Wevr was part of a consortium that won the Malta Enterprise tender for the project. However, Wevr didn’t just take on the role of a vendor; they became Malta’s creative and technological partner, working hand-in-hand with Malta Enterprise and Maltese architectural firm EMA. Led and directed by Spiteri, they set out to build a guest experience that was as authentic as it was groundbreaking. Their mission? To transport visitors through time and imagination, leaving them with a deeper connection to Malta—and a sense of wonder they’d carry home.
The journey begins: a portal through time
Picture this: you’re walking toward the Malta Pavilion, and its massive 60×20-foot curved LED facade begins to shift. It’s no ordinary screen—it’s a portal. One moment, you’re peering into a prehistoric cave; the next, you’re standing before the ancient Ħaġar Qim temple, older than Stonehenge itself. Then comes the medieval walled city of Mdina, followed by the grand gates of Valletta, a UNESCO world heritage gem. The lighting dances with the sun’s rhythm, while a soundscape of Maltese winds and voices wraps around you. This Facade Portal isn’t just an entrance—it is an invitation to the journey within
Inside the immersion chamber: Malta’s story unfolds
Step inside, and the Immersion Chamber takes hold. A 180-degree, 27×9-foot LED screen envelopes you, pulling you into a 10-minute narrative that feels like a love letter to Malta. It unfolds in three acts:
- Origins and history: a time-travel odyssey through 8,000 years, from the primal dance of sun and sea to the Phoenicians, Romans, Knights of Malta, and beyond—through the Great Siege, WWII, Independence, and Malta’s EU chapter. The Ħaġar Qim digital twin glows as a centerpiece, a testament to the dawn of culture on the island.
- Present day: a vibrant snapshot of modern Malta—its people, industries, and a mesmerizing celebration of geometric and organic patterns reflecting its cultural mosaic.
- Future vision: a breathtaking montage of natural reserves flows into a sustainable tomorrow—desalination, fish farming, offshore wind, and a Valletta reimagined as a “Metaverse” hub.
Surround sound with female choirs echoing Malta’s matriarchal past, and dynamic lighting inspired by the Mediterranean and Japanese sun, synchronize perfectly, making you feel like you’re not just watching Malta’s story—you’re living it.
Crafting the magic: a global symphony
This wasn’t a solo act; it was a symphony played across continents, a virtual studio headquartered in Los Angeles USA, spanning the US, Malta, Italy, Bulgaria and Japan. Creative Director Alberto Vittadello based in Italy, Creative Producer Francis Gerschi based in Malta, and Technical Director Dennis Blakey based in the US collaborated directly with Wevr director, producer and writer Neville Spiteri.
In addition to the overall creative direction, Alberto Vittadello and his team at CIBO researched and utilized Generative AI to bring iconic historic moments to life. Utilising AI wasn’t just a gimmick—it was Wevr’s secret weapon, breathing life into Phoenician ships, enhancing WWII footage, and crafting visual metaphors that sang of Malta’s soul.
Francis Gerschi and the Stargate Studios team brought Malta to life with 8K cameras and drones, filming everything from underwater scenes to dazzling fireworks, navigating tricky government permits with grace. When heritage sites couldn’t be accessed due to foot traffic, they turned to photogrammetry and LiDAR, creating ‘digital twins’ earning Heritage Malta’s stamp of approval, who played a key role in ensuring the authenticity of the experience. Unreal Engine became their beating heart, weaving together live-action, CGI future scapes, and VR previews, and the classic Mediterranean wave was simulated in Houdini.
Wevr’s Dennis Blakey managed the virtual studio infrastructure, and also leveraging VR to visualize and simulate the pavilion experience, having started the design process in collaboration with Malta-based EMA who architected the pavilion structure, with the stunning exterior facade design and interior space structure.
The human touch: collaboration and heart
From Creative Director Alberto Vittadello’s visual design to Francis Gerschi’s on-the-ground finesse in Osaka, every voice mattered, adding the human touch and heart as the pavillion was prototyped in VR and then fine-tuned on-site in real-time, ensuring the massive screens and bespoke audio hit just right. As Neville Spiteri added, “We get the nuance… what moves people emotionally and how to curate that experience. That’s a Wevr superpower!”
And this project wasn’t just about tech or deadlines—it was about connection. Wevr poured their hearts into every frame and every sound, because stories can bridge worlds. Visitors will step out of the Immersion Chamber over the next six months with their eyes wide and hearts full… having journeyed to Malta And this project wasn’t just about tech or deadlines—it was about connection. Wevr poured their hearts into every frame and every sound, because stories can bridge worlds. Visitors will step out of the Immersion Chamber over the next six months with their eyes wide and hearts full… having journeyed to Malta on the world stage and caught the wave, courtesy of Wevr.
World Expo runs from April 13 – October 13 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and aims to contribute to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Held every five years, the 2025 edition has a theme ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’, including strands on saving, empowering and connecting lives and a concept ‘People’s Living Lab’. The projected visitor count is approximately 28 million (Source: Wikkipedia).
