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Malta's Mediterrane Film Festival to Feature ‘The Return,' ‘Compulsion,' ‘Hot Milk'
The Mediterrane Film Festival in Malta is returning for its third edition with more than 40 films from over 20 countries. Running from June 21-29 in the island's capital, Valletta, the festival has set programming for its Competition, Out of Competition and Mare Nostrum sections. Competition films will include Uberto Pasolini's 'The Return,' starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche; Rebecca Lenkiewicz's directorial debut, 'Hot Milk,' 'For the Love of a Woman' (Per amore di una donna) from Italian director Guido Chiesa; 'Harvest' from Athina Rachel Tsangari; and Maltese director Joshua Cassar Gaspar's 'The Theft of the Caravaggio.' More from Variety Catherine Hardwicke, Rick Carter Lead Jury for Mediterrane Film Festival Malta's Mediterrane Film Festival Sets Jury and Special Programming Anupam Kher to Shoot 'The Return' as Australia-India Co-Production (EXCLUSIVE) Out of competition special screenings will include Ira Sachs' 'Peter Hujar's Day' with Ben Wishaw and Rebecca Hall, the Malta-set erotic thriller 'Compulsion' by Neil Marshall, 'Four Letters of Love' with Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne and 'Time Travel is Dangerous,' narrated by Stephen Fry. A sidebar section with FilmItalia will celebrate new Italian women filmmakers, with selections including 'Diva Futura,' 'Gloria!' and 'Love and Glory – The Long Deledda.' The Mare Nostrum section, meaning 'Our Sea,' returns with six films exploring the climate crisis and environmental themes including 'Lowland Kids,' 'How Deep is Your Love' and 'Transamazonia.' Elli Griff, Rick Carter and Catherine Hardwicke are among the jury members who will also participate in Masterclasses during the festival along with director Joe Carnahan, producer Jeremy Thomas and Glenn Gainor, head of physical production at Amazon Original Movies. The Golden Bee Awards on June 29 will celebrate 100 years of cinema in Malta, held at the historic 18th century Fort Manoel. The festival is led by the new creative team of Festival Director Ray Calleja and Festival Curator Mark Adams, and the theme of this year's event is 'We Are Film.' See the full film program below: MAIN COMPETITION The Return (dir. Uberto Pasolini)Uberto Pasolini's The Return reunites The English Patient co-stars, Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes and Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche in a powerfully original and psychologically revealing adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. After 20 years away, Odysseus (Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The King has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom. His beloved wife Penelope (Binoche) is a prisoner in her own home, hounded by suitors vying to be king and planning the death of Telemachus, the son he never knew. Shattered by his experience of war, Odysseus must rediscover his strength in order to win back all that he has lost. Hot Milk (dir. Rebecca Lenkiewicz)Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Deborah Levy, this directorial debut by Rebecca Lenkiewicz sees Sofia and her ailing mother, Rose, travel to the Spanish seaside town of Almería to seek the help of Dr. Gómez, an enigmatic healer who may hold the key to Rose's mysterious illness. As long-buried tensions simmer between them, Sofia finds herself drawn to the magnetic and free-spirited Ingrid. For the Love of a Woman (Per amore di una donna) (dir. Guido Chiesa)Written and directed by Guido Chiesa: A strong and independent woman who hides a painful past. Harvest (dir. Athina Rachel Tsangari)Athina Rachel Tsangari's (Attenberg, Chevalier) striking adaptation of Jim Crace's acclaimed novel finds an idyllic rural community coming under threat from outsiders. Over seven hallucinatory days, a village with no name, in an undefined time and place, disappears. Townsman-turned-farmer Walter Thirsk and befuddled lord of the manor Charles Kent are childhood friends about to face an invasion from the outside world: the trauma of modernity. The Theft of the Caravaggio (dir. Joshua Cassar Gaspar)Orpheus wakes to discover a priceless Caravaggio painting stolen from St. John's Cathedral in Valletta while under his watch. With the city on edge, a detective is brought in from Washington to aid the local police in solving the case. Where The Wind Comes From (dir. Amel Guellaty)Amel Guellaty's long-awaited feature debut is a robust and cinematic feast. The Tunisian-born director, screenwriter and photographer, who directed the critically acclaimed short Black Mamba follows rebellious 19-year-old Alyssa and shy 23-year-old Mehdi who dream of escaping their reality. Upon discovering a contest offering a chance to flee, they embark on a road trip to southern Tunisia, overcoming obstacles along the way. Fiume o Morte! (dir. Igor Bezinovic)Winner of the IFFR 2025 Tiger Award, director Igor Bezinović's meta documentary restages a bizarre episode in Rijeka's history, when it was placed under nationalist occupation by the Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio. On 12 September 1919, a troop of some 300 soldiers under the leadership of the flamboyant war loving poet D'Annunzio swooped into the port town of Fiume, now Rijeka, wanting to annex the city to Italy. Over the course of 16 months, during what is regarded as one of the most bizarre militant sieges of all time, his official photography team captured over 10,000 images. A century later, Rijeka-born filmmaker Igor Bezinović, along with some three hundred citizens, orchestrates a direct-action history lesson focused on the siege and its modern-day implications. The Wound (dir. Seloua El Gouni)Leila, a young Moroccan girl who just entered the workforce, tries to pursue her passions and ambitions while navigating the thorny societal constraints imposed on women under the guise of tradition and cultural normalcy. Winner – Best Debut Feature Film at the Athens International Art Film Festival, Greece Reflection in a Dead Diamond (dir. Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani)John D, a septuagenarian living in a luxury hotel on the French Riviera, is intrigued by his female neighbour who reminds him of the wild times spent there during the 1960s, when he was a spy in a changing world full of promise. One day, his neighbour mysteriously disappears and leaves John to face his demons again: are his former adversaries back to sow chaos in his idyllic world? 8 (dir. Julio Medem)Octavio and Adela were born on the same day, April 14th, 1931. During the following 8 decades, their lives will intertwine through intense encounters and misunderstandings in 8 episodes. A passionate love story between a brave and fighting woman and a man confronted with his contradictions. They will have to face coming from families on opposing sides of a country slowly heading towards a Civil War, along with the history of Spain and Europe as a background. OUT OF COMPETITION Peter Hujar's Day (dir. Ira Sachs)Based on a richly cinematic rendering of a conversation recorded in 1974 between photographer Peter Hujar and writer Linda Rosenkrantz the film, starring Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall, re-imagines their talk that day in a single 24-hour period in the life of Hujar, the brilliant and famously uncompromising artist who was one of the most important figures in downtown New York's legendary cultural scene of the 1970s and 1980s. Compulsion (dir. Neil Marshall)On the island of Malta, two women become involved in an intense affair, a deadly game of cat and mouse and a string of horrifying murders. Four Letters of Love (dir. Polly Steele)A heartfelt adaptation of Niall William's bestselling novel, starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne. Nicholas (Fionn O'Shea) and Isabel (Ann Skelly) were made for each other but how will they ever know it? As destiny pulls them together, family, passion, and faith drive them apart. They follow their own individual journeys of heartache and misplaced love, before fate contrives to pull the threads of their lives together. When they meet, it will become a miracle. Time Travel is DangerousReal-life best friends Ruth and Megan run a vintage shop in Muswell Hill. When they stumble across a time machine, they start taking short trips into the past to 'borrow' unique items to sell in the present. They're not out to change history or rob banks — just on the hunt for the perfect vintage lamp… all while trying to avoid the terrifying time-space vortex known as the Unreason. Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson play themselves, with their actual vintage shop, Cha Cha Cha, featured in the film. The film features an all-star British comedy cast, including Johnny Vegas, Jane Horrocks, Sophie Thompson, Mark Heap, Brian Bovell, Tony Way, Guy Henry, and Tom Lenk — and is narrated by Stephen Fry. The Extraordinary Miss Flower (dir. Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard)The Extraordinary Miss Flower brings to life the remarkable story of Geraldine Flower and the discovery of a suitcase full of passionate, heartfelt letters of love sent to her in the 60s and 70s that inspired acclaimed Icelandic singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini to return to the studio and record an entire album of new songs. Part film, part theatre, part fever dream, the film takes the form of a series of specially designed performances of these songs by Emilíana and her band, combined with dramatic scenes and readings from the letters by well-known actors and musicians (including Caroline Catz, Nick Cave, Alice Lowe and Richard Ayoade). The Wedding Banquet (dir. Andrew Ahn)More than just a remake of the 1993 hit movie, The Wedding Banquet is a joyfully loving and fresh reimagining of a classic comedy of errors about a family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and family expectations as they live, love, fight and make up again. Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris and running out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their lesbian friend Angela in exchange for her partner Lee's expensive IVF. Elopement plans are upended, however, when Min's grandmother surprises them with an extravagant Korean wedding banquet… With a pitch-perfect multigenerational cast that includes the great Lily Gladstone, The Wedding Banquet boils over with humour and heart and a reminder that being part of a family means learning to both accept and forgive. Diva Futura (dir. Giulia Louise Steigerwalt)In 1980s-1990s Italy, Riccardo Schicchi's agency Diva Futura turns free love into porn, making stars of Ilona Staller, Moana Pozzi and others. Their fame leads to Cicciolina's election and Pozzi's mayoral run. Gloria! (dir. Margherita Vicario)In singer-songwriter Margherita Vicario's beautiful and rousing musical film, a group of confined young women in 18th century Venice use their musical talents to break free. Gloria! is a soaring feel-good musical reimagining of history about a group of young women musicians who invent pop music in Baroque-era Venice. Set in a convent boarding school, the film follows Teresa who has visionary musical abilities but whose gift remains unsung. Ahead of a visit to the convent by the Pope, Teresa helps to create a musical uprising and leaps across the centuries to defy the dusty old regime by inventing a rebellious, light, and modern music: pop! Love and Glory – The Young Deledda (L'amore e la gloria – La giovane Deledda) (dir. Maria Grazia Perria)Screenwriter and documentary filmmaker Maria Grazia Perria's narrative feature directorial debut is a sensitive, intelligent and arresting biopic of the early life and artistic struggles of Sardinian novelist Grazia Deledda. The first Italian woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, she is portrayed here with no small amount of passion by Marisa Serra. The Ballad of Wallis Island (dir. James Griffiths)The Ballad of Wallis Island follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig. This City is a Battlefield (Perang Kota) (dir. Mouly Surya)Isa, a taciturn school teacher working for the resistance, is tasked with carrying out an assassination with the help of Hazil, a charming rebel who finds himself falling for Isa's wife, Fatimah. An exquisite period thriller that marries sensual romantic drama with propulsive action spectacle, Mouly Surya's fifth feature recreates life in Jakarta under colonial occupation in fastidious detail, unveiling it in all its seductive and brutal textures. About a Hero (dir. Piotr Winiewicz)After a local factory worker named dies under mysterious circumstances, Werner Herzog travels to Getunkirchenburg to investigate his perplexing death. But Herzog, our narrator, is not who he seems, and the film is not what we expect. About a Hero is an adaptation of a script written by AI, trained on Herzog's body of work. Opening the prestigious 2024 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), and co-starring Vicky Krieps and Stephen Fry, the documentary is ironically self-reflective. As the mystery unfolds, director Piotr Winiewicz intertwines the narrative with a series of 'real' interviews with artists, philosophers and scientists reflecting on the notion of originality, authenticity, mortality and soul in the age of AI. MARE NOSTRUM How Deep is Your Love (dir. Eleanor Mortimer)Scientists explore the mysterious deep sea to collect and name undiscovered species. As they uncover mesmerizing creatures and ecosystems thriving in darkness, a looming threat emerges: the prospect of deep-sea mining in this untouched wilderness. British director Eleanor Mortimer's film weaves wonder with urgency, challenging us to balance the drive for resources with the intrinsic value of an ecosystem. As we journey through this breathtaking realm, we are left to ponder – how deep is our love? Transamazonia (dir. Pia Marais)In the eerie quiet of the vast, verdant Amazon jungle, a young girl stirs to life. Rescued by the local Indigenous tribe, the child, Rebecca, is the only survivor of a plane crash. Years pass, and Rebecca (Helena Zengel) has become something of a local celebrity after her father (Jeremy Xido), an American missionary, has cast the teenager as a faith healer capable of miracles. Just as Rebecca is beginning to have a will of her own, doubting her father and the role in which she's been cast, another crisis emerges when illegal loggers encroach on the land, threatening the livelihoods of the local tribe, and forcing emotional, familial, and racial reckonings. South Africa–born director Pia Marais has fashioned a mesmerizing, entrancingly photographed moral tale with no easy answers that is also a singular coming-of-age fable. Black Butterflies (dir. David Baute)David Baute's beautifully animated film tells the individual stories of Tanit, Valeria and Shaila, three women from very different parts of the world who face the same problem: climate change. They will lose everything because of global warming effects and they will be forced to emigrate to survive. Miyazaki: Spirit of Nature (dir. Léo Favier)A documentary exploring the life and influential works of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, known for films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, focusing on his passion for animation and advocacy for the natural world. Only on Earth (dir. Robin Petré)Spain's Southern Galicia is one of the most wildfire-prone zones in Europe. Wild horses have roamed these mountains for centuries and play a crucial role in fire prevention by keeping flammable undergrowth low. But their numbers are dwindling. Petré's film takes the audience on an immersive and visually striking journey into the hottest summer on record while inextinguishable forest fires rage for days. Only on Earth is about the fragile balance of our natural world and the relationship between humans and animals. Lowland Kids (dir. Sandra Winther)The film follows the story of the last two teenagers and their uncle—on Louisiana's once thriving Isle de Jean Charles: their strikingly beautiful ancestral home that is now being swallowed by the sea. Part of the community deemed America's First Climate Refugees, they face an uncertain future as the U.S. government makes an unprecedented effort to resettle their entire community before the island succumbs to the sea. The film is directed by Danish filmmaker Sandra Winther and executive produced by Darren Aronofsky. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
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Catherine Hardwicke, Rick Carter Lead Jury for Mediterrane Film Festival
Mediterrane Film Festival has revealed its international jury, which will include director Catherine Hardwicke and production designer Rick Carter. The new creative team for the festival, which runs from June 21 to 29 in Valletta, Malta, is led by festival director Ray Calleja and festival curator Mark Adams. More from Variety Malta's Mediterrane Film Festival Sets Jury and Special Programming Marcia Gay Harden, Virginia Madsen, Paris Jackson and Skeet Ulrich Join Catherine Hardwicke's 'Street Smart' Catherine Hardwicke Casts Isabelle Fuhrman, Yara Shahidi, Daniel Zovatto and Michael Cimino in 'Street Smart' The festival features three programming strands: the Main Competition, showcasing films from across the Mediterranean; Out of Competition, featuring a selection of international films; and Mare Nostrum (a.k.a. Our Sea), for films dedicated to sustainability and environmental themes. In addition to public screenings, the festival will host an industry strand, housed in the 400-year-old Fort Ricasoli, offering panels, roundtables and masterclasses from leading industry figures. The Main Competition jury will decide on the winners of the Golden Bee Awards, which will be announced at a gala event on June 29. As well as Hardwicke, director of 'Twilight, 'Thirteen' and 'Lords of Dogtown,' which will screen at the festival, and Carter, who won Academy Awards for 'Avatar' and 'Lincoln,' the jury also includes: costume designer Charlese Antoinette, whose credits include 'Air' and 'Judas and the Black Messiah,' for which she received a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination; set decorator Elli Griff, who was Oscar nominated for 'Napoleon'; production designer James Price, who won an Oscar with 'Poor Things'; and Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi, known for 'ZOS: Zone of Separation,' 'Habbilni Ha Nirbah' and 'Il-Gaġġa,' which is considered to be the first full-length feature film made entirely in Maltese. The Mare Nostrum jury will include Grainne Humphreys, artistic director of the Dublin Film Festival, and Ania Trzebiatowska, senior programmer at the Sundance Film Festival. Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech said: 'The Mediterrane Film Festival was born from a simple yet powerful idea – to connect creative minds from the Mediterranean and across Europe and transform their ideas into reality. We stand for opportunity, collaboration and creativity.' Calleja said: 'As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we're honored to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity, and global reach of contemporary cinema. Together with our festival curator, Mark Adams, we're committed to shaping a program that not only honors Malta's cinematic past but also champions bold new voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond.' Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
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3 days ago
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Mediterrane Film Festival Sets Jury and Special Programming for Third Edition
The 2025 edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival is falling into focus. The third installment of the festival — scheduled to take place in Valletta, Malta from June 21-29 — has reeled in a jury that includes filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), Oscar winning production designer Rick Carter (Avatar), costume designer Charlese Antoinette (Air), set decorator Elli Griff (Napoleon), production designer James Price (Poor Things), Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi (ZOS: Zone of Separation). The jury will determine the recipients of the Golden Bee Awards, a list that will be unveiled at a gala, on June 29. More from The Hollywood Reporter Seth Green, Ashley Greene to Star in Director Peter Facinelli's Rom-Com 'Grace Period' (Exclusive) 'Dark Winds' Star Jessica Matten on That Shocking Episode 4 Ending: "This Is Above My Pay Grade" Robert Pattinson Is Done With 'Twilight' Haters: "Are You Still Stuck on That S***?" The Mediterrane Film Festival, which is under the direction of a new creative team in festival director Ray Calleja and curator Mark Adams, features three pillars of programming: main competition (films from across the Mediterranean), out of competition (global selections) and Mare Nostrum or Our Sea (films dedicated to sustainability and environmental themes). The latter's jury includes Grainne Humphreys, a longtime artistic director of the Dublin Film Festival, and Ania Trzebiatowska, a senior programmer at the Sundance Film Festival. Beyond the fest's public screenings, programming will also include panels, roundtables and masterclasses from notable industry talent. Jury member Hardwicke will be pulling double duty this year as she's already been booked for a filmmaker discussion in support of her film, Lords of Dogtown, which will have a 20th anniversary screening. Past speakers include Mike Leigh, editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (Poor Things), Oscar-winning production designer Nathan Crowley (Wicked), casting director Margery Simkin (Top Gun) and composer Simon Franglen (Avatar: The Way of Water). This year's festival is being curated with the theme 'We Are Film,' which is meant to be a reflection of the festival's mission to unite creators and audiences in honoring the universal language of film. It also very much aligns with a major Malta milestone: 2025 marks 100 years of filmmaking in the area, dating back to its first feature film, 1925's Sons of the Sea. In the century since, it has become a hot production hub thanks to its architecture, landscapes and water-based facilities at Malta Film Studios. Movies that have shot in the area include Gladiator, Troy, Game of Thrones, Napoleon and many more. 'As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we're honored to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity, and global reach of contemporary cinema. Together with our festival curator, Mark Adams, we're committed to shaping a program that not only honors Malta's cinematic past but also champions bold new voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond,' said Calleja in a statement. Added Malta film commissioner Johann Grech: 'The Mediterrane Film Festival was born from a simple yet powerful idea – to connect creative minds from the Mediterranean and across Europe and transform their ideas into reality. We stand for opportunity, collaboration and creativity.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
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4 days ago
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Mediterrane Film Festival Announces 2025 Jury & Special Programming
The third edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival kicks off next month with a new international jury and lineup of special programming. Taking place June 25-29 in Valletta, Malta with the theme 'We Are Film', the festival's Main Competition titles from across the Mediterranean will be evaluated by a jury of film creatives ahead of the Golden Bee Awards, which will be presented at a gala on June 29. More from Deadline Mediterrane Film Fest Names Ray Calleja & Mark Adams As 2025 Director & Curator Turkish Drama 'Life' Wins Malta's Mediterrane Film Fest As Commissioner Dismisses Budget Concerns Skeet Ulrich, Paris Jackson, Marcia Gay Harden & Virginia Madsen Among 7 Rounding Out Cast Of Catherine Hardwicke's 'Street Smart' The first members of the jury include director Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Twilight, Lords of Dogtown), production designer Rick Carter (Forrest Gump, Jurassic Park, Avatar), costume designer Charlese Antoinette (AIR, Judas and the Black Messiah), set decorator Elli Griff (Glass Onion, Napoleon, Gladiator and Gladiator II), production designer James Price (Poor Things, Speak No Evil, The Iron Claw) and Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi (ZOS: Zone of Separation, Habbilni Ha Nirbah). The Mare Nostrum — 'Our Sea' jury, which will judge narrative and documentary films dedicated to sustainability and environmental themes, includes Dublin Film Festival artistic director Grainne Humphreys and Sundance Film Festival senior programmer Ania Trzebiatowska. 'As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we're honoured to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity, and global reach of contemporary cinema,' said festival director Ray Calleja. 'Together with our festival curator, Mark Adams, we're committed to shaping a programme that not only honours Malta's cinematic past but also champions bold new voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond.' Hosted at the 400-year old Fort Ricasoli, the festival's special programming includes panels, roundtables and masterclasses from notable industry figures, as well as a 20th anniversary screening of Hardwicke's Lords of Dogtown, followed by a filmmaker discussion. Celebrating the centennial of film in Malta, with the 100th anniversary of Sons of the Sea (1925), the festival's theme of 'We Are Film' is meant to represent 'a celebration of film, connecting people through stories, emotions and shared experiences.' Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far
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4 days ago
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Malta's Mediterrane Film Festival Sets Jury and Special Programming
The Mediterrane Film Festival has set its international jury for the event that runs June 21 to 29 in Malta. Led by festival director Ray Calleja and curator Mark Adams, the third edition of the festival celebrates the centennial of film in the island nation, set in the capital city of Valletta. More from Variety Marcia Gay Harden, Virginia Madsen, Paris Jackson and Skeet Ulrich Join Catherine Hardwicke's 'Street Smart' Catherine Hardwicke Casts Isabelle Fuhrman, Yara Shahidi, Daniel Zovatto and Michael Cimino in 'Street Smart' 'Life,' 'To a Land Unknown' Win Main Prizes at Sophomore Edition of Mediterrane Film Festival The festival features a main competition selection featuring films from across the Mediterranean, an out of competition section with global programming and the Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) highlighting narrative and documentary films dedicated to sustainability and environmental themes. The festival also hosts an industry section at the 400-year old Fort Ricasoli featuring panels, roundtables and masterclasses from industry figures. Past speakers have included director Mike Leigh, 'Kinds of Kindness' editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis and 'Top Gun' casting director Margery Simkin. The jury for the Golden Bee awards, which are given at a gala event on June 29, will include Oscar-winning production designer Rick Carter, costume designer Charlese Antoinette, set decorator Elli Griff, director Catherine Hardwicke, production designer James Price, and Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi, director of the first feature film made in Maltese. The Mare Nostrum jury includes Dublin Film Festival artistic director Grainne Humphreys and Sundance senior programmer Ania Trzebiatowska. 'The Mediterrane Film Festival was born from a simple yet powerful idea – to connect creative minds from the Mediterranean and across Europe and transform their ideas into reality. We stand for opportunity, collaboration and creativity,' said Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech added. 'As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we're honoured to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity, and global reach of contemporary cinema. Together with our Festival Curator, Mark Adams, we're committed to shaping a program that not only honors Malta's cinematic past but also champions bold new voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond.' said Festival Director Ray Calleja. The theme of the 2025 festival is 'We Are Film' – celebrating film, and connecting people through stories, emotions and shared experiences. Malta hosted its first feature film, 'Sons of the Sea,' in 1925, and has become a notable production hub for films and television programming including 'Gladiator,' 'Troy,' 'Popeye,' 'Game of Thrones' and 'Napoleon.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
