A curious fact about the Maltese islands is that the breathtaking scenery of this small country has always caught the eyes of international artists, including poets, painters, and sculptors.
Let me start with the masterpieces of Mattia Preti on the ceilings of the Co-Cathedral of St John in the Maltese capital, Valletta. Also not to be missed, in the same cathedral, is the work of Caravaggio. The famous painting of The Beheading of St John the Baptist is an example of this artist’s chiaroscuro technique.
In the home of the noble DePiro family in Valletta, now open to the public, you will find a portrait of the poet Lord Byron. Byron lived in Valletta for some time, inspired by the Maltese seas and the fortifications that protect our cities, which appear in his writings.
In the contemporary world, Malta’s contribution to the film industry cannot go unmentioned. Just like many artists in the past, numerous film directors have chosen Malta as the ideal island for their movies. Although the boom of the film industry is quite recent, it has existed in Malta for a long time, in fact celebrating 100 years in 2025. A century of local and international productions that were filmed on our shores.
Here are some titles you probably know. Starting with Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott. Both the first and second chapters of this story were filmed in Malta on an incredible set in Ir-Rinella, built by the skilled hands of Maltese craftsmen.
Malta was also very popular with the couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, so much so that they even invested in private property on the island of Gozo. Pitt came to Malta several times for work, including for the filming of Troy (2004) and World War Z (2013). In 2015, he worked on a film with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie called By the Sea, which was entirely filmed in Gozo.
To name some other examples you might want to add to your list of movies to watch in your free time, there’s The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), Popeye (1980), Assassin’s Creed (2016), and Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025), among many others.
But since we’re on the subject of films, I think it’s appropriate to introduce you to some local films by Maltese directors, which were not only shot in Malta but also showcase the talent of Maltese actors and are written in Maltese. I believe that if you are cinema enthusiasts, you will definitely enjoy listening to and practicing a bit of Maltese by watching these films.
Simshar (2014)
This film by Rebecca Cremona is based on a true story that happened a few years before the film was made. A tragedy at sea that struck a family from Marsaxlokk and shocked the country for weeks, and is still remembered today.
Cremona tells the story in detail with the help of local and international actors who stepped into the shoes of the Maltese people involved in this incident, which ended up claiming the life of a small boy.
This film is also a clear testimony to the bilingual nature of the country. You will see a lot of what we call “code-switching,” that is, the ease with which Maltese people switch between Maltese and English during the same conversation. This is not only due to the need to use English with foreigners living in Malta but also because English is one of Malta’s official languages and is used daily.
In Simshar, you’ll get an idea of the daily life of a fisherman from Marsaxlokk and the dangers this job brings. Fishing is an integral part of Malta’s economy, and Marsaxlokk still attracts many tourists today for fresh fish meals along the village’s waterfront.
Ciao Ciao (2025)
This satirical film clearly exposes the social aspects of Maltese life and creates a contrast between people from different social classes in Malta.
The film is by Keith Albert Tedesco and features performances by some of Malta’s top actors today, including Simone Spiteri and Ruth Borg. We follow the stories of three groups of people who, in one way or another, end up in each other’s lives, and the story unfolds in a completely unexpected way…
Although “Ciao” is an Italian word, it has become well integrated into the Maltese language due to the influence of Italian culture and language in Malta. Our islands are not only geographically close to Italy but also culturally and socially. We are very similar to Italians in our cuisine, behavior, and even in the way we express ourselves. In fact, “Ciao” is the word we often use to say goodbye at the end of a conversation.
Limestone Cowboy (2017)
A story that reveals the political fanaticism of the Maltese. Limestone Cowboy follows a protagonist whom we might describe as delusional, convinced that he will enter politics and win the election.
Although this is a fictional story, it’s not the first time we’ve seen how political fervor has gotten the best of many Maltese people who, despite having no political background or knowledge, have run for election and shared outlandish ideas with citizens.
This film by Abigail Mallia tells the story of Karist in a way that clearly brings out Maltese cultural aspects related to politics and religion, showing how these still intertwine today and affect Malta’s social progress.
Limestone Cowboy was very well received and earned a four-star rating on Letterboxd.
Luzzu (2021)
Lastly, we return to the sea and fishing with the film Luzzu. This is a recent film that was also shown at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2021, and was in the running for the Best Feature Film award.
The film by Alex Camilleri follows the story of a Maltese fisherman who goes to great lengths to provide for his family—his wife and their small baby, who isn’t growing or developing as they should.
In this film, we see another aspect of life in the fishing industry, which not only reveals the dangers of the job but also what someone is willing to do, since it’s not a career that brings in much money.
I must mention the incredible performance of Jesmark Scicluna in the role of the film’s protagonist. Interestingly, Scicluna is a real-life fisherman, so during his performance, he was able to bring authenticity to his role.
Check out the Maltese version of this blog post for the trailers of all of these films! Enjoy :)
Sarah, OLS Community Manager - Maltese