Guided by this year's overarching theme, “Beyond Together,” the festival celebrates Malta's thriving legacy in film, while strengthening its role as a vital bridge between the Mediterranean's
rich heritage and the future of global storytelling. With world-class backdrops that have hosted legendary blockbusters from Gladiator to Jurassic Dominion, Malta continues to solidify its
reputation as an extraordinary destination for international filmmakers.

Industry Programme: Shaping the Future of Film
The Mediterrane Film Festival 2026 Industry Programme is built around a single conviction: that the conversations the screen industry most needs are the ones it rarely has in public. Over five
days in Valletta, the programme brings together international cinema’s most experienced and candid practitioners - including directors, producers, writers, financiers, and platform executives
for a series of panels and masterclasses designed to deliver actionable insights.

The programme launches with the opening conference, “Taking the Film Industry to the Next Level: Upskilling the Film Workforce in Malta.” Aimed at exploring how the regional sector can be elevated through strategic professional development, the event features a keynote address by Malta’s Film Commissioner Johann Grech and who is leading the upskilling programme, followed by a landmark industry census presentation by Prof. Vincent Marmara. The conference will feature two targeted panel sessions addressing critical structural questions:

● “Upskilling at Scale”: Examining how local industries build the skills required to compete globally. Featuring speakers Dustin Chodorowicz (Nordicity), Ruth Debrincat (National Skills Council), Vanessa Attard and Sandra Bernotti from the Malta Film Commission.
● “Building Careers for the Next Generation”: Exploring the institutional, commercial, and creative pathways connecting emerging talent to sustainable careers. Featuring speakers Prof. Angus Finney (NFTS / London Film School), Chris Spiteri (Animator), and Vince Pace ASC (Fuse Technical Group), moderated by Oriana Abela (Grant Thornton).

Throughout the week, attendees will have exclusive access to a high-caliber lineup of Masterclasses led by acclaimed international professionals:

● Producer Masterclass (“Producing Without Borders”): Aaron Barnett (Mutiny, The Silent Hour) and Leif Bristow discuss navigating international co-productions and maximizing cross-territory bilateral treaties.
● Acting Masterclass (“Inside the Craft”): Famke Janssen (GoldenEye, X-Men) joins John Ross (Vanity Fair) to examine the mechanics of screen performance and the architecture of a thirty-year career spanning acting, writing, and directing.
● Director Masterclass (“Directing Action for a Global Audience”): Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger) breaks down the demanding craft of directing large-scale action cinema for international audiences, moderated by Steven Weintraub (Collider.com).
● Lifetime Achievement Masterclass: Andy Harries OBE (Left Bank Pictures; The Crown) discusses building one of British television’s most distinctive independent production companies, moderated by Adrian Wootton OBE (Film London & British Film Commission)

A series of curated Industry Panels will run concurrently, focusing on the intersection of creativity, business, and sector innovation:

● “Show Me the Money: Understanding How Film Finance Actually Works”: An analysis of the capital stack, pre-sale valuations, and lending requirements. Features Neil Chordia (Hopefield), Mariyah Dosani (Calculus Capital), Sara Ghorra (Legendary 193), and Geoffroy t’Serstevens (Align Group), moderated by Dr. Angus Finney.
● “Making Films Together: The Mediterranean Model”: A deep dive into the Tunisia-Italy co-production structure of Aïcha (Venice 2024), featuring filmmakers Habib Attia (Cinétéléfilms) and Flaminio Zadra (Dorje Film), moderated by Dariusz Jabłoński (European Producers’ Club).
● “Building the Studio of Tomorrow”: Discussing global infrastructure demands and Malta’s Land Sea Superstage with Glenn Gainor and Sandy Climan (Hollywood Ventures Group), Lee Rosenthal (former President of Physical Production Worldwide for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Studios, and Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech.
● “So, You Want to Make Cartoons?”: Exploring animation commissioning mechanics and non-traditional career paths with Kyle Balda (Minions: The Rise of Gru), Alan R. Cohen (King of the Hill), and Shion Takeuchi (Inside Job), moderated by Prof. Paula Callus.
● “Where Does a Story Begin? Turning Heritage & Myth into Stories for Global Screens”: Translating culturally specific heritage material into international intellectual property, featuring André Øvredal (Passenger), Mario Cacciottolo, and Olivia Smith, moderated by Dr. Liam Gauci.
● “How a Place Becomes a Story”: Looking inside the location management craft behind Netflix's upcoming Enola Holmes 3 with Tom Howard, John Rakich, and Joseph Formosa Randon
● “Cinema in Portrait Mode”: Analyzing the booming vertical drama and short-form mobile streaming economy with Julie Tucker (JoyReels) and Kim Miller (ReelShort), moderated by Stephen Dullaghan.
● “The Character Is the Plot”: A master panel on why character drives narrative architecture, featuring prolific screenwriters moderated by James Mottram.

 

Together, these sessions position the Mediterrane Film Festival as a premier hub where global industry leaders, decision-makers, and emerging talent converge. By driving targeted collaboration and investment, the Industry Programme actively supports Malta’s commitment to building a highly skilled, resilient, and forward-looking screen industry in the Mediterranean.

Introducing the Esteemed 2026 Jury

The festival’s expanded competition strands - including the newly introduced Big Screen Competition chaired by Joaquim De Almeida - will be evaluated by a world-class, distinguished
jury of accomplished global creatives. Their expert eyes will determine the recipients of the coveted Golden Bee Awards at the closing Gala on June 28.

● The Big Screen Competition Jury:
○ Chair of the Jury: Joaquim De Almeida - An internationally acclaimed Portuguese actor with a career spanning over four decades. Known for his powerful screen presence, he has starred in major Hollywood and international projects including Good Morning, Babylon, 24, and Fast Five.

○ Col Needham - Visionary British technology entrepreneur who founded the IMDb in 1990, revolutionizing how the global public and industry professionals access film and television data.
○ Gina Marsh - Highly accomplished line producer and production executive with extensive credits across major television and film projects, including A Very English Scandal, Broadchurch, Downton Abbey, and the high-profile series KAOS.
○ James Nunn - Dynamic British action and thriller director known for his innovative filmmaking techniques, notably directing the relentless, single-take action feature One Shot (2021) and its sequel One More Shot.
○ Mike Goodridge - Prominent international producer, festival programmer, and founder of Good Chaos. His notable credits include co-producing Ruben Östlund’s Palme d'Or-winning Triangle of Sadness and executive producing the Oscar-nominated Quo Vadis, Aida?
○ Marcelle Genovese - Established Maltese hair stylist with a very vast experience on film and TV and specializing on period hair styles. She has worked on high calibre productions both in Malta and abroad

● The Mediterranean Competition Jury:
○ Andy Tennant - Critically acclaimed Hollywood director and screenwriter renowned for helming iconic romantic dramas and comedies, including the beloved historical fiction retelling Ever After (1998), Hitch, and Sweet Home Alabama.
○ Marek Pugh - award-winning Director of Publicity and Festivals at Signature Entertainment, bringing 26 years of major studio distribution experience to the role. Marek is also an accomplished music video director currently developing feature films.
○ Theo Park - Emmy Award-winning casting director recognized for her exceptional eye for talent. Her extensive profile includes casting the global comedy phenomenon Ted Lasso, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Paddington.

"In our 2026 edition, we are expanding the festival's programme and strengthening its role as a meeting point for talent, ideas, and opportunity," said Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech.
“'Beyond Together' reflects exactly where we are building partnerships, attracting global productions, and positioning Malta as a real global player on the world stage. The Mediterrane
Film Festival offers a unique blend of breathtaking natural beauty, a skilled workforce, and deep cinematic history, making it the perfect home for the global filmmaking community.”

 The 2026 Mediterrane Film Festival is set to showcase 30 films, anchored by the launch of its new Big Screen Competition featuring high-profile projects like Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers, Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man's Wire, and Alice Winocour’s Couture starring Angelina Jolie. In addition to star-studded mainstream offerings, the festival features the localized
Mediterranean Competition highlighting regional cinema (including the Maltese psychological drama Vanitas), the environment-focused Mare Nostrum section, and a New World Cinema
lineup boasting global titles like Ben Wheatley's Normal and Anders Thomas Jensen's The Last Viking. Running from June 21–28 in Valletta, the Festival will culminate with the annual Golden Bee Awards celebrating standout filmmaking from the Mediterranean and beyond.