Once a year, the Malta Film Commission awards grants to emerging filmmakers through the Malta Film Fund for the development and production of audiovisual works. An independent evaluation panel of highly esteemed professionals including foreign experts from the film industry are brought together to assess and review applications and to administer awards. Deadline for submissions is 12 noon, Friday, 30th August 2013. Detailed guidelines, criteria and application form for the Malta Film Fund 2013 can be found and downloaded from the Malta Film Commission website www.mfc.com.mt.

Since its inception in 2008, a total of 32 Maltese films/documentaries have received the fund’s support; of which 17 projects received development funding and 15 projects received production funding. A total of €661,968.32 has been awarded in funding grants for these projects. For full list of projects awarded to date visit www.mfc.com.mt

Recently the Malta Film Commission brought together over 40 local writers interested in the setting up of a number of “Writer’s Rooms”. A Writer’s room is all about bringing together teams of writers (from 6 to 8 persons) to discuss existing projects, to collaborate on new projects and share ideas. At this meeting, Peter Busuttil, went on to stress the importance of working and collaborating together in the interest of the Film Industry and discussed with the participants how the setting up of a “Writer’s Room” could become a reality; it is intended that Two Writer’s Rooms consisting of 7 writers in each will commence in September.