Times2 talks to festival director Federico Chini to find out more.
For the features, Chini is always on the lookout for Maltese films, international movies that were filmed in Malta or those that have a Maltese link.
“This year, we needed to look no further than Maltese productions for our first two nights,” he smiles. “The quality of Maltese Cinema keeps getting better and better.”
The feature movie on the first night, Friday August 22, is Ciao Ciao by rising talent Keith Albert Tedesco, a film named for a never-ending goodbye of two old friends bumping into each other, which is, of course, a cultural norm here.
“There are several interwoven stories that complete each other as the film plays out,” Chini continues, “and it’s packed with fresh dialogue, plenty of drama and moments where the audience will laugh aloud. It’s very relatable: the characters are quite typical – well, stereotypical – Maltese, and obviously, matters heat up when the couples don’t see eye to eye about certain topics.”
Castillo (showing on Saturday, August 23) is the second fully Maltese production showing in this year’s edition of the festival. It’s a thriller with an air of mystery by established director Abigail Mallia, whom Chini describes as “one of the most experienced directors working in Malta today.” The film weaves together past and present, incorporating twists and turns that build the story and keep the viewer transfixed, Chini continues. He’s delighted that Mallia will be both at the festival for a Q&A session after the film, and running a day-time workshop, An Introduction to the Art of Visual Storytelling.
A second workshop during the festival is targeting teenagers, and is run by film-maker Adam Żurawecki, director of the multi-award winning short Cookie Box, who is back by popular demand. He will focus on the preparations required to make a great film from building a story to auditions.
“During the mornings of Saturday and Sunday, we also have something for the littlest ones,” adds Chini “alongside short films, there will be a fun-filled, interactive workshop to learn what goes on behind big movie productions”.
“The feature animation Flow (2024), on the last night, Family Evening, is a timeless epic with a purity that caught my eye. It’s a beautiful immersive animated adventure, directed by Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis,” Chini continues.
“It deservedly won the Oscar for best animated feature. The main protagonist is a cat who, with some other animals, is trying to survive in a dreamlike natural world that’s disappearing as the water level rises. Graphically, Flow is rather unusual, perhaps evoking Minecraft, with a stylised and slightly pixellated aesthetic which makes it stand out from the crowd. The story is packed with interesting group dynamics – perhaps most will mostly think they’re the cat, but not everyone will!”
Among other accolades, the film also won this year’s Lux Audience Award in Brussels.
“People watch movies on a number of levels – simply to enjoy a story, to appreciate its cinematography, the acting, the dialogues, or to see something different, learn something, open up to new horizons. So, choosing what to show at a festival is always a balancing act,” Chini says.
“That’s why the shorts programmes each evening are wonderfully wide-ranging. Audiences will hopefully be entertained, have a laugh, learn something new, and feel empathy for some of the screen characters.”
Of particular note, We Three Kings is an amazing adventure short from emerging Maltese writer and director Bruce Micallef Eynaud, as he builds on the biblical story of the three kings, infusing it with imagination and humour.
“The overall quality of the production is very high. Script, acting, cinematography, editing, are all top notch,” enthuses Chini. “I can see Micallef Eynaud becoming one of Malta’s leading directors.”
Another highlight from a Maltese director, Franco Rizzo, is comedy short The Clairvoyant, a tale of a man in deep trouble and a tarot reader foretelling the future. Marcus is being hunted down by a ruthless gangster demanding repayment of a debt owed by his late brother, whose knowledge of the missing money died with him − or so it seems.
“Bernard Satariano plays Marcus, and although he’s a relative newcomer to acting, he has perfect comedic timing and very Maltese flair to his acting,” says Chini. “He’s another talent to watch out for this year and in years to come.”
Look out, too, for the subtle comedy Not Just Coffee from emerging Maltese director Marisabelle Grech. She presents Ben, a socially awkward over-thinker, as he tries to impress his crush Sophie at a coffee shop but spirals into embarrassing mishaps.
Top shorts from abroad include The Strange Case of the Human Cannonball, a whimsical light-hearted animation with a South American flavour; the edgy Garnotte from Canada by director Félix Bellefleur; Cell Buddies, a time lapse animation of a jailbreak by a grumpy raccoon and a sweet but dim manatee; B[Reach] an intense drama about a woman post-pregnancy from US director Rachel Hendrix; and The Eggregore Theory, “…which is very different,” Chini explains.
“It combines a narrator’s voice with images created using AI, the first time we’ve had AI input in a film in the festival. We chose it because it’s an intriguing story of a world-ending pandemic that is perhaps triggered by something very unexpected.”
And it’s these surprises along with the diversity and the sheer entertainment value that makes this film festival such a pleasure for both locals and tourists of all ages. I’ll see you there!
The Gozo Film Festival is made possible thanks to a collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Directorate within The Ministry for Gozo and Planning. For all the details, visit the festival’s website and socials.
