The Malta Film Commission aims to attract new investment into its film sector with ambitious plans for expanding its production facilities, including a unique ’land-sea super stage’.
The facility at Malta Film Studios in Kalkara will feature an environment-controlled indoor water tank, a floor area of 4,000 square metres, and a strong 26m-high roof from which to hang helicopters.
“It is a unique proposition for filmmakers because of its size and because of its location,” suggested Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech. ”It is going to be located strategically near the [existing] deep tank. You can have a submarine inside the tank inside the stage, and then an aircraft carrier inside the Deep Tank, which will enjoy the ‘infinite horizon’.”
The super stage is part of an envisioned “cluster” of new sound stages proposed for Malta, which has hosted productions such as Gladiator II, Jurassic World Rebirth, Napoleon and the upcoming Enid Blyton adaptation The Magic Faraway Tree in the past decade.
“We have all the permits in place,” said Grech of the overall Malta Film Studios project, with the tender process starting in the next few weeks.
Malta’s original water tank was the largest facility of its kind in the world when it opened just over 60 years ago. It followed up with the deep tank in 1979, then also considered groundbreaking.
“We are going to follow in those footsteps,” said Grech, who explained the long-term aim to ensure “big, complex” franchise movies can find everything they need on the island.
European hub
Since Grech took over as film commissioner in 2018, 200 productions generating a spend of €730m have shot on Malta. They have created approximately 1,800 full-time jobs for local people within the industry, according to the film commission.
Malta has invested heavily to attract new business, underpinned by a 40% tax rebate on Maltese spend. UK and US productions presently account for between 70-75% of the inward spend, says Grech, who explains he is presently working to bring in more work from sectors including Australia.
“For every Euro that we spend in terms of [the] cash rebate, the treasury got four Euros back,” said Grech.
The Commission launched the Mediterrane Film Festival in 2022 as part of efforts to showcase Malta as a European production hub. Joseph Calleia and Emile Sandé performed at the closing night gala, attended by Gladiator star Russell Crowe.
The fifth edition is due to take place in June 2026.
Furthermore, local producers will benefit from Malta’s decision to join the Council of Europe’s Eurimages fund, which will offer coproduction opportunities at a lower budget level.
Incoming productions
Grech said bookings to shoot on the island in 2026 are up compared to the same period last year. Mel Gibson is understood to be planning an epic mini-series about the Great Siege of Malta that took place in 1565 as the armies of the Ottoman Empire battled in vain to take over the island. “It’s a great story, and it is our story too,” Grech said.
The series is unlikely to shoot this year - Gibson is busy working on The Resurrection Of The Christ- but the US filmmaker has spoken passionately about the project.
Twenty years ago, the arrival of such a big production would have been front-page news and the lead item on local news bulletins. Not in 2026.
“Today, it’s the norm,” Grech said, “When I became commissioner, I said we are going to create a world-class film industry. The sceptics said: ‘he is thinking big.’ But, yes, we are thinking big. We started from ground zero. Critics used to criticise me for overspending - it was not overspending, it was investing.”
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