BRIEF HISTORY
The Malta Film Foundation (VO/0578) was set up in 2010 by film director Tony Parnis and media producer and journalist Joyce Grech with the main objective of promoting film literacy and film events in Malta. The Board also includes Mr Tony Cassar Darien, festival judge and Artistic Director of the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
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Since its inception, the Foundation had produced the Malta Short Film Festival in collaboration with PBS Ltd., a festival which won local award for the Best Cultural Programme in the Malta Television Awards in 2009, the first year of its production. In 2015, the festival was the only local film festival to be given the European award, EFFE Label for Festivals and it was once again awarded this quality label in 2017.
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The Foundation had also collaborated with UK Foundation Matthew Martino Benevolent Fund who offered financial incentives to promising upcoming film directors with their Rising Star Award for three consecutive years.
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The Foundation works in collaboration with various festivals to promote call for entries and Maltese film and has acted as liaison with a number of Malta embassies abroad organising film events from Malta.
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The Foundation has benefited from public funds including the Malta Arts Fund, Local Culture Initiative Fund, the Malta Film Commission and Good Causes Fund, the Malta Film Foundation had successfully been chosen as a beneficiary of the Cultural Partnership Agreement, which was a 3 year contract to expand the Malta Short Film Festival.
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The Foundation has also been responsible for hosting various film events such as Tribute to Joseph Calleia, and the Early Years Film Festival with Valletta Primary and the Ministry of Education.
Together with AÄ¡enzija Å»għażagħ, the Foundation produces the Malta Youth Film Festival to encourage new talents, showcase creativity and promote these talents abroad during the partnership festival in Tromsø, Norway.
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The Foundation is also expanding the workshop offer with its new project Malta Film Weekend, inviting lecturers from Malta and abroad. Additionally to the MFW, the Foundation participates in youth exchange via Erasmus + programs.
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