The National Archives of Malta is this week hosting a three-day event in honour of Cecil Satariano (1930–1996), a pioneering Maltese film-maker, critic and author.
There will be presentations, panel discussions and screenings celebrating Satariano, his films and the restoration of his five award-winning films by The Cecil Satariano Film Restoration Project led by Veronica Galea.
Cecil Satariano: A Cinematic Retrospective will be held from October 23 to 25 at the Spazju Kreattiv Cinema, Valletta, as part of the 2025 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage programme, in cooperation with the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA).
Programme
DAY 1: OCTOBER 23, 7pm – Free entrance
Presentation 1: ‘Cecil Satariano, Life and Work’, delivered by Jean Pierre Borg, will look into the film-maker’s endeavours as a film correspondent and film critic to his activism for the reform of censorship and, ultimately, his critically acclaimed film-making career.
Presentation 2: ‘The Cecil Satariano Film Restoration Project’ delivered by Veronica Galea and Tom Bakels. Using “before and after” comparative images and film extracts to show restoration interventions, the director and head film restorer on this project will present the various challenges encountered during the restoration of Satariano’s films. Starting with the years-long search for the films, the speakers will elaborate on dealing with deteriorated Super 8 and 16mm film materials and the issues raised after discovering different film edits of some of the films.
Screenings
Giuseppi (1971, Super 8, 22 minutes)
Let Them Be (1971, Super 8, 11 minutes)
DAY 2: OCTOBER 24 at 7pm – Free entrance
Panel discussion 1: ‘Cecil Satariano Remembered: Cecil through the eyes of family and those who worked with him’, featuring Madeleine Vella Satariano, Mario Philip Azzopardi, Marie Benoît and Jo Debono.
Panel discussion 2: ‘Cecil Satariano’s Significance in Malta’s Cinematic Heritage’, featuring Rebecca Anastasi, Charlie Cauchi and Kenneth Scicluna.
Screenings:
I’m Furious – Red! (1970, Super 8, 33 minutes) Film 2
Touch of Dutch (filmed in 1973, Super 8, 7 minutes)
DAY 3: OCTOBER 25 at 7.30 pm – Tickets from: https://bit.ly/473zJsd
Screening of Cecil Satariano’s five restored films:
• I’m Furious – Red! (1970, Super 8, 33 minutes)
• Giuseppi (1971, Super 8, 22 minutes)
• The Beach (1973, Super 8, 23 minutes)
• Ilona (1974, Super 8, 15 minutes)
• Katarin (1978, 16mm, 42 minutes). Suitable for people aged 12+.
For more information, visit spazjukreattiv.org and view the attached booklet.