The upcoming Maltese film Żejtune, written and directed by Alex Camilleri, is among 44 projects from 17 countries selected for funding by the Doha Film Institute. Currently in post-production, the film is slated for release in 2025.
During the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Doha Film Institute CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi announced the winners, stating, “The founding objective of our Grants programme is to build a new collective of authentic voices who bring diversity and depth to the medium of cinema and encourage cross-cultural exchange and dialogue.”
Żejtune marks Camilleri’s second Maltese-language film, following his critically acclaimed Luzzu, which premiered at Sundance in 2021 and earned the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for acting, presented to Jesmark Scicluna.
The new film tells the story of Mar, a young woman preparing to leave Malta while settling her inheritance. An encounter with Nenu, an elderly troubadour, introduces her to the enchanting world of Maltese folk singing. Featuring real artists from the rarely-seen tradition of Maltese folk music, Żejtune explores the transformative power of music to connect generations and reshape destinies.
The film is a co-production between Solari Productions, Pellikola, Noruz Films, and One Two Films. In addition to the support from the Doha Film Institute, Żejtune has received funding from Creative Malta, Arts Council Malta, ZDF, ARTE, and the Ministry for Gozo.
