Latest news with #Valletta
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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?
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘It's feels like you're walking through a movie set' – the ancient European city with new easyJet flights
THIS week we're shining the light on Valletta, the capital of Malta. The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot recently visited the city and said it was like "wandering through centuries of history with a different era around every corner." 4 4 She explained: "And if it feels strangely familiar that's because a host of blockbuster movies have been filmed on the island - from Roman epic Gladiators to the Da Vinci Code and Murder on the Orient Express. "Now a younger generation are exploring it with the island - and its pretty little sister Gozo - trending on TikTok. New flights as well from Southend mean this is definitely the year to visit. "Valletta's pedestrianised centre is a joy to explore and you can tick off grand Renaissance buildings, baroque palaces and of course, the vast fortifications around the harbours. "St John's Cathedral in the heart of the city is a must-see - for its astonishing Baroque opulence with intricate carved stone walls, vast vaulted ceilings covered with vibrant frescoes and a floor covered with marble tomb slabs. "But one smaller palace stole my heart - Casa Rocca Piccola. This 16th century palace, originally built for Don Pietro La Rocca, a Knight of Malta, is the only privately-owned palazzo open to the public in Valetta. "Still lived in the current Marquis de Piro, Nicholas, and his wife, the quirky palace rooms are very much still a family home stuffed with books, paintings and many pictures of Nicolas' family and many ancestors. "Nicolas himself leads you on entertaining tours through its many rooms, pointing out quirky furniture with fascinating back stories. His parents met Queen Elizabeth when she lived in Malta alongside her new husband, Prince Phillip and were among those invited to her Coronation. "The pretty courtyard garden - where you can enjoy an afternoon tea - has another little treasure, family pet parrot Kiku, who definitely rules from her little roost. "Some 100ft beneath the palazzo are three air raid shelters, hewn out of rock, where Maltese locals would take cover during the Second World War. You can even stay the night with the family in one of three beautifully restored rooms. "While good value food is easy to find in Valetta, for those looking to really splash out, I can't recommend rooftop restaurant Le GV highly enough. How to spend a weekend in Malta "This Michelin-starred joint is reminiscent of the Orient Express and serves up elevated Maltese fish and local produce with three courses from a very reasonable £75." And we have all the best tips from someone else who knows Valletta best - British Airways Holidays destination executive for Malta, Josephine Greatorex. MUST-SEE / DO The fortified city of lovely limestone Baroque buildings and narrow, cobblestone streets opens out on to sweeping harbour views. It's a buzzing city, but compact, so it's easy to explore the likes of the Grandmaster Palace and Upper Barrakka Gardens. To escape the hustle and bustle and cool down in the warm weather, I'd head to the tiny island of Comino in the Maltese archipelago between Malta and Gozo. Visit the Blue Lagoon, a beautiful wild swimming paradise and a great place for diving. HIDDEN GEM Don't miss the chance to admire the Azure Window, a natural limestone structure just off the coast of Gozo - it's like Durdle Door only somewhat sunnier. Also worth a visit is the village of Marsaxlokk, around 15 minutes from Valletta. The old weekly Sunday fish market also has stalls selling artisan produce. There's some lovely seafood restaurants lining the pretty harbour looking out at the colourful Luzzu fishing boats. 4 BEST VIEW Over Grain is a rooftop lounge at AX Rosselli, a former merchant's palazzo within the walls of old town Valletta. There's fantastic views and an imaginative cocktail menu, while the live DJ sets tend to have a very chilled vibe. The Barrakka Gardens, spread across two levels, also give unrivalled views of the three cities at the mouth of the harbour, and are great for watching ships. RATED RESTAURANT Villa Corinthia, at Corinthia Palace, has extended the residency of chef Francesco Mazzei. I've eaten here and met Francesco - the food is divine and his engagement with the diners brings an exceptional warmth to the whole experience. Corinthia Palace is a beautiful hotel, opposite the Grandmaster's Palace and away from the bustle of the busy resorts. BEST BAR Kamy Cocktail Bar in Valletta has a beautifully unique menu, featuring classic favourites alongside cocktails inspired by works of art. I don't know how they do it but the artwork is literally on the cocktail. HOTEL PICK The Phoenicia, on the fringes of Valletta, is set in beautiful, landscaped gardens with views across the Grand Harbour. Seven nights' room only is from £1,079pp including flights from Gatwick. Book by April 4 at or call 0344 493 0787.
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Telegraph
The 34 best restaurants in Malta
In the last decade Malta has morphed from a nation still culinarily compromised by the legacy of British colonial cooking to a truly gourmet Mediterranean destination. It received its first Michelin stars in 2020,and now has seven Michelin-starred restaurants, one of them with two stars. All serve primarily modern Mediterranean cuisine. Many more restaurants are named and praised in the Malta Michelin Guide. You can still get a great full English breakfast, or even a butty and beer if you insist, but you can also eat extremely well (without Michelin stars) for far less than in the UK. So why not avail yourself of the region's best with perfectly cooked fish fresh from the surrounding sea cooked with just-off-the-bush capers and local white wine, or fresh lobster ravioli and sumptuous steak followed by ricotta cassata, gooey hot chocolate pudding or homemade fig ice cream. The Maltese love their food, so the country is full of excellent restaurants, patronised by locals and visitors alike. Portions are often large, and nobody here wants to rush through a meal, so allow a bit of time, relax, and enjoy. Find out more below, or read on to find our most mouth-watering suggestions for where to eat around the island. We also have guides helping you plan a weekend in Valletta, the best places to stay, how to fill your time on the island (and what you can do for free), plus the best beaches and bars. Find a restaurant by type: Best all-rounders Rubino An unassuming Dickensian shopfront leads to this smart but relaxed Valletta favourite, with white tablecloths and walls decorated with wine bottles and bottled vegetables. The blackboard menu of excellent traditional Maltese, Sicilian and Mediterranean dishes changes daily. There is always a mix of meat and fish, and usually a rabbit dish (much loved by locals). The slow-cooked lamb melts in the mouth, and don't miss Rubino's rightly famous Sicilian cassata – made with ricotta cheese, not too sweet and utterly delectable. Service is efficient, knowledgeable and friendly. Awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand (for 'good quality and good value food') since 2020, this is a place to return to again and again. Guzé In one of Valletta's oldest houses said to have belonged to the city's sixteenth-century Maltese architect (Girolamo Cassar), you'll find Guzé. This intimate, family-run restaurant serves consistently excellent food in an elegant but relaxed limestone-and-white-linen interior. Equally good are their perfectly cooked fresh fish dishes and the large value-for-money fillet steak. The carpaccio of sea bass and panatone are both (in their very different ways) subtly delicious and the hot chocolate pudding will pull any chocolate lover back for more.
Saba Yemen
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Malta condemns Zionist aggression on Gaza
Valletta - SABA: Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela condemned the Zionist aggression targeting the Gaza Strip, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, including children and women. In a statement, Abela affirmed that Malta, both the government and people, reject these brutal acts perpetrated by the Zionist enemy, calling for an end to these massacres and ensuring the protection of civilians. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
