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 26m-high roof from which to hang heliopters.
“It is a unique proposition for filmmakers because of its size and because of its location,” suggested Malta Film Commissioner Johan 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,” says 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
Grech took over as film commissioner in 2018. Since then,188 productions generating a spend of €726m have shot on Malta and have created approximately1,800 full-time jobs for local people within the industry, according to the film commission.
Malta has invested very heavily to attract new business, underpinned by the 40% tax rebate for Maltese spend to woo high-budget international productions. Between 70-75% of the work in Malta is coming from the UK and US, said Grech. He added he is working closely to lure Australian producers in the future.
The Mediterrane Film Festival launched in 2022 to showcase Malta as a European production hub, and featured closing night celebrations attended by Russell Crowe that included performances by Joseph Calleia and Emile Sandé.
The fifth edition is due to take place in June 2026.
In January, Malta joined the Council of Europe’s fund, Eurimages, which will offer coproduction opportunities with European partners.
Thus far, most of the investment in the industry has come through the government. “For every Euro that we spend in terms of [the] cash rebate, the treasury got four Euros back.”
In 2023, film represented 18% of overall economic growth in Malta, according to Grech.
Future projects
Grech said 2026 bookings are up on the same period last year. Mel Gibson is understood to be planning an epic mini-series about the Great Siege in 1565 when Malta stood firm against the Ottoman Empire. “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, it was front-page news and the lead item on local news bulletins when a big film started shooting on Malta. “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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