Arts Council Malta organised a one-day event for Maltese producers and audiovisual professionals who want to better understand how Eurimages works and how it can help their projects. Titled Unlocking Opportunities with Eurimages, the event was held at Spazju Kreattiv Theatre, Valletta.
The event followed Malta’s recent accession to Eurimages, the Council of Europe’s support fund for cinema. The fund can offer game-changing opportunities for Maltese filmmakers, opening the door to European co-production, distribution and exhibition, besides creating new possibilities for working across borders.
Dr. Luke Dalli, Executive Chairperson of Arts Council Malta, stated: “Malta’s accession to Eurimages marks a significant step forward in strengthening the international dimension of our audiovisual sector. This event reflects our commitment to ensuring that local producers and practitioners are not only aware of the opportunities available, but are also equipped with the knowledge and networks needed to access them effectively. By fostering collaboration and encouraging a more strategic approach to co-production, we are supporting the continued growth and global reach of Maltese storytelling.”
Keith Chetcuti, PBS CEO, stated: “Malta’s accession to Eurimages is an important milestone, but it also brings with it a responsibility to ensure that the sector is properly equipped to make the most of the opportunities now before it. We’ve already seen, through the accession process, exactly how rigorous the requirements of this funding are. This is why today’s event is particularly important in helping translate a major development into practical knowledge for producers and filmmakers. As the national broadcaster, PBS views this as part of its wider role within Malta’s audiovisual ecosystem, one that includes helping local stories grow in strength and reach, and supporting a sector that is increasingly ready to engage with wider European platforms.”
Unlocking Opportunities with Eurimages aims to move away from theoretical terms so as to give more information about how the fund works in practice. Participants gained a clearer sense of the criteria involved and the schemes available, with a panel discussion geared towards the wider thinking that’s needed to approach international co-production more strategically.
The programme included a presentation by Eurimages representative Anton Calleja, covering the fund’s mission, objectives, schemes and eligibility requirements, with time set aside for questions from participants. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to co-production and internationalisation. A panel discussion was moderated by co-production specialist Jennifer Sabbah, who was accompanied by Anton Máni Svannson, from Iceland; Boštjan Virc from Slovenia; Christopher Zitterbart from Germany and Giorgos Linardakis from Greece.
The discussion explored the realities behind international collaboration, including how to identify the right co-production partners and how projects can be developed with stronger international potential from the outset. The programme closed with a networking session for producers, practitioners and other industry stakeholders.
