Production has officially wrapped on Nannu, an intimate and emotionally charged cultural drama inspired by writer/director Matthew C. Vella’s personal relationship with his late Maltese grandfather.
Nannu stars well-known Maltese actor and two-time Malta TV Awards nominee Henry Zammit Cordina (L-Għarusa, Ħbieb u Għedewwa, Bizzilla, Il-Klinika) and Film Critics Circle of Australia award winner and AACTA-nominee actress Frances Duca (Ali’s Wedding), and introduces nine-year-old newcomer Henry Stoakes. Rounding out the cast is Karina Summers, Mark Andrew, Nathan Camilleri and Charlie Cortis.
The film is co-produced by Vella, Duca, Zammit Cordina and Luke Agius (The Undesirables, Go Figure). Filming took place in Western Sydney in January and concluded in Malta in June.
Clash of customs
A rare Malta-Australia co-production, Nannu explores themes of intergenerational identity, heritage and the immigrant experience. At its heart, Nannu is a story about how love and legacy survive across generations, even when traditions shift.
A newly released promotional poster captures the film’s unique metaphor: eating pastizzi with tomato sauce, a controversial food pairing in Malta but a familiar staple for Maltese children raised in Australia.
“In Malta, dipping pastizzi in tomato sauce is unthinkable. But Aussie kids eat everything with sauce − meat pies, sausage rolls, you name it,” director Matthew C. Vella says.
“We’re using this clash of culinary customs as a metaphor for how traditions change through immigration. It’s a bit cheeky, a bit controversial, but ultimately about how culture and legacy adapts and lives on.”
“In Malta, dipping pastizzi in tomato sauce is unthinkable. But Aussie kids eat everything with sauce”
With post-production now under way, the film is being positioned for submission to Academy Award- and BAFTA-qualifying festivals throughout 2026. Nannu aims to shine a spotlight on the under-represented Maltese-Australian experience, touching on themes of language, cultural pride and family bonds.
For updates, behind-the-scenes content and screening announcements, follow Matthew C. Vella on Instagram.
This project was funded by Arts Council Malta, Blacktown Arts as part of the 2024 Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund Program, and sponsored by Gato’s Pastizzi.
