Captain Phillips was shot in 2012 using the 20% tax incentive scheme launched in 2005. In the meantime Malta increased incentives to 23 -maximum 25 percent when films show Malta as itself. Paul Greengrass's film employed Mediterranean Film Studios to provide services. Captain Phillips had a 41 day shoot off the coast of Malta.

Unit Production Manager Katryna Samut-Tagliaferro, who was responsible for attracting the film to Malta, told FNE that although filming at sea is challenging, it was a very successful shoot thanks to the excellent marine infrastructure of boats, local marine authorities and water crew which are intrinsic to the way of life on the island of Malta. 

"This and the world renowned water tanks has historically made, and continues to make Malta one of the most popular locations in the world for filming on water,” Samut-Tagliaferro said.

While no high budget studio films have shot in Malta in 2013, foreign production has continued at steady pace. Alrick Riley's 90 minute TV film The Whale starring Martin Sheen and produced by BBC Factual and Discovery Channel, started shooting at Mediterranean Film Studios in spring 2013 with servicing from Latina Pictures. The Russian production Tsoy and Zuckerberg (Divers) by Konstantin Buslov will wrap shooting end of October 2013 at Film Corporation.