Malta’s film industry hampered by lack of skilled professionals, high rents and construction boom

Malta’s film industry is facing challenging times because of a lack of skilled professionals, high rents and to a lesser extent, the building boom, according to industry leaders.

Several producers and agents who spoke to BusinessToday on condition of anonymity said that promoting Malta as a film-making destination was becoming increasingly more difficult.

The competition from destinations such as Morocco, Jordan, Bulgaria and Hungary has also intensified and the reason is not only linked to tax advantages.

A film producer said more had to be done to ensure a supply of skilled professionals. “If a production company comes to Malta and has to bring over all its technical staff it would defeat the whole scope but they have to be sure that the skills set they need is available here,” he said.

The producer noted that competition from eastern European countries was a tough reality the country had to contend with.

“The impact of ongoing construction may be a problem for specific projects that would require certain locations but it is not an issue for all productions. The lack of a skilled workforce was a bigger worry,” he added.

His views were reflected by a veteran film producer, who also acts as an agent for foreign filmmakers.

He told Business Today extensive construction across the islands was only the tip of the iceberg.

“Finding film extras is relatively easy but there is a lack of production experts, such as sound and light technicians, professional riggers, video editors and studio assistants,” he lamented.

This failing, he noted, would force a foreign production company to bring over more professionals instead of pooling locals to fill certain roles.

And a more recent problem is the higher rents being charged. Most companies are hesitant to agree to long-term rentals in popular areas at what have become accepted standard prices in the past couple of years.

“It is important to understand that when these companies send representatives to scout for locations for an upcoming movie, they have to consider everything, down to the last dollar,” the producer said.

These companies will always seek the most advantageous destination that provides the best service, quality personnel, real value for money and a quick turnaround solution, he added.

Another filmmaker said that Malta’s charm as a filming location was being impacted by the building boom.

He said the continuous development triggered in recent years was slowly changing the island’s appeal to international filmmakers.

“The current building boom is affecting Malta’s allure as an ideal filming location. At the same time, logistics-wise, it’s not ideal right now, since practically huge infrastructural projects all over the island are underway, including a large portion of residential roads,” the source said.

The island has for some time failed to attract a Hollywood blockbuster movie but another filmmaker said this was also dependent on the type of script.

“Basically, the island as a film location has to fit the underlying script. But it’s very difficult for us to compete for that middle east scenario with countries such as Morocco and Jordan,” he acknowledged.

‘The sound stage is a brilliant idea’

The industry sources, however, welcomed plans to create a sound stage at the Ricasoli Film Facility.

This facility is expected to be an added incentive to the industry because feature films can be completed in their entirety on the island.

The industry leaders described the soundstage project as a “brilliant idea”, which according to them will most definitely help us secure more project in the future.

“Soundstage is a brilliant idea. In previous years, we had to resort to empty warehouses which would be transformed into sound stages.

Recently it was becoming very difficult to find an empty warehouse, due to the economic state of the country,” they said.

Malta remains an ideal film location

When contacted, Film Commissioner Johann Grech dismissed the criticism, insisting that Malta remained an ideal film location, especially with the recent changes to the tax rebates offered to production companies.

“We never had a government as committed as the present to make Malta the top of the line film location in the world. Till now I must have met with over 400 producers and none have mentioned such shortcomings,” Grech said.

The Film Commissioner also rebuked claims that high rents and lack of skilled professionals in the industry are two big concerns for international film-makers.

He said that when the third series of Fox’s Queen of the South was being filmed in Malta, the production company brought over a team of only 10 people, the rest, about 140 professionals, were all locals.

“We established a directory of local industry workers which is then passed on to every producer. It’s very clear to producers that they must employ and train locals to be then eligible for cash rebates,” Grech said.

The Malta Film Commission recently revised incentives, which will see productions earning a cash rebate of up to 40% for expenses incurred in Malta. Prior to these revisions, productions shot on the islands were entitled to a 27% cash rebate.

“Together with Minister Konrad Mizzi, we worked on a strategy to ensure that Malta remains competitive in the global film market. With our 40% cash rebate, today, Malta is offering a strong proposition to studios and independent filmmakers to choose Malta for their project.

Today Malta is offering 40% on TV series, feature films, documentaries, pilots, scripted and unscripted reality shows, animation and also post-production and VFX,” Grech said.

But Malta’s proposition to filmmakers is not based only on the cash rebate, he added. Malta offers a versatile location, unique water tanks, experienced crew and the ability to double for various different countries, Grech insisted.

‘Tourism Minister dismisses claims of shortcomings’

Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi also dismissed the criticism.

He said the building boom impact on Malta’s film industry was exaggerated because most of the productions are produced in designated closed places such as the Ricasoli Film Studios.

“Filming usually takes place in a number of designated areas around the island such as the Ricasoli Film Facilities, stakeholders have never lamented about the building boom effect on film productions,” Mizzi said, adding that three separate international productions will be filming in Malta in the coming days, including an MTV reality show.