The new Screen Support Scheme, the result of an intensive research and consultation process with stakeholders, has been announced by Arts Council Malta (ACM). This is the first time the fund, which offers support to the indigenous film industry, is being managed by ACM as part of the Ministry for Culture.
The new scheme is set to inject a total investment of €1 million into the industry.
Minister for the Artistic Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici welcomed this scheme, and during the launch stated that “it is essential that we keep on working to strengthen the cultural and creative sectors which make up important and intrinsic aspects of what makes us Maltese, and therefore, it’s extremely important that we listen to the sector, and to work hand in hand to further strengthen it.”
Arts Council Malta Chair Albert Marshall stated: “What we are doing today is a humble attempt to alleviate the pain of these shortcomings. We are among the few whose national-scale cinematographic expression is yet to materialize. The road is long, but every beginning has its end. In short, this is the story that has brought us to where we are today as the Arts Council Malta launches a financial support scheme for the screen—the first edition of public funds in favour of the production and dissemination of indigenous Maltese film.”
Marshall made reference to the move of this fund from the Film Commission to ACM and continued to say that “this move carried with it EUR 900,000 that were available for the implementation of this project. Immediately, the Council, which from the outset recognized that EUR 900,000 were insufficient for this project to be effective, raised the amount of funds to EUR 1 million from its reserves. The Council declared that there was a strong need for lobbying to increase the fund to the amount of EUR 3 million, which is the promised amount.”
Director of Funding & Strategy Mary Ann Cauchi highlighted the 5 strands within this scheme. The Council has always emphasised its role as a defender, facilitator, intermediary, and guardian of our arts and cultural and creative sectors in the broadest sense, in line with Strategy 2025. This also includes the indigenous film sectors, which we will see strengthened through this Scheme.”
“The Scheme allows for the consideration of applicants who are new to the industry, while also offering support in the form of a mentorship process. This approach also aligns with the principles of our national Strategy, which emphasizes investments that support various forms of mentorship,” Ms Cauchi continued.
The fund is divided into five strands: Screenwriting, Development, Short Film, Feature Length Production and Cultural Programmes.
Four strands of the Screen Support Scheme cover works of fiction, as well as documentaries and animations, whilst one strand supports cultural programmes. Applicants must be independent audiovisual entities and submit a completeapplicationby September 24 at noon to apply for any of the strands, with the results being announced on November 21 and 22.
For more information about the Screen Support Scheme visit www.artscouncilmalta.gov.mt.
Submitting ...
Saving ...
Any applications related to this entity, will also be automatically deleted.
