Another big winner was the Polish/Swedish coproduction United States of Love, which screened in competition in Berlin earlier this year, with director Tomasz Wasilewski taking home the prize for Best Director and Dorata Kolak winning Best Actress.

The emphasis was on open-air venues with the closing ceremony held on the seaside at the recently restored St Elmo fortress. A highlight of the festival was the world premier of a new Maltese feature film Limestone Cowboy directed by Abigail Mallia and produced by Valletta based Take2 Entertainment. The film is based on a true story of a damaged and delusional man, Karist, who witnessed the horrific death of his father as a child and the Catholic church’s refusal to give his father the last rites because of his father’s radical political views. The eccentric Karist decides to run for Prime Minister of Malta.

Another of the highlights this year was special guest Sir Alan Parker, the director of Midnight Express, Evita and The Life of David Gale, who was present in Malta to celebrate Valletta’s 450th anniversary with a special screening of Midnight Express, which was shot in Malta.

VFF also included Conference of Small Nations which is supported by the Malta Film Commission, where among the speakers was included FNE general director Anna Franklin, who presented the Film New Europe Association and how its members are working to support the work of film professionals in small countries in Europe and cultural diversity. Click HERE for the full programme of the conference.

List of Winners – Valletta Film Festival 2016:

Best Feature Film
The Yard (Sweden)
Directed by Mans Mansson

Best Director
Tomasz Wasilewski for United States of Love (Poland, Sweden)
Directed by Tomasz Wasilewski
Produced by Manana and VP SA, Film i Väst and Common Ground Pictures
Supported by Polish Film Institute
Sales: New Europe Film Sales

Best Actor
Soren Mailing for Parents (Denmark)
Directed by Christian Tafdrup

Best Actress
Dorata Kolak for United States of Love (Poland, Sweden)
Directed by Tomasz Wasilewski

Best Cinematography
Ita Zbroniec Zajt for The Yard (Sweden)
Directed by Mans Mansson

Best Screenplay
Carl Gerber and Anne Zohra Berrached for 24 Weeks (Germany)
Directed by Anne Zohra Berrached

Best Documentary
Walls (Spain)
Directed by Pablo Iraburu and Migueltxo Molina

Best Short Film
Bellissima (Italy)
Directed by Alexxandro Capitani

Teens Choice Award
Keeper (Belgium, Switzerland, France)
Directed by Guillaume Senez