The 2025 Mediterrane Film Festival is in the spotlight.

The third part of the festival (scheduled to be held in Valletta, Malta from June 21 to 29), has been involved in a jury including film producer Catherine Hardwickke (twilight), Oscar wins production designer Rick Carter (avatar), fashion designer Charles Antoinette (Air), decorator Elli Griff (Napoleon), production designer James Price (Poor thing), Malta director Mario Philip Zocopardi (ZOS: Separate Area). The jury will identify winners of the Golden Bee Awards, which will be unveiled at the party on June 29.

Under the guidance of the new creative team of festival director Ray Calleja and curator Mark Adams, the Mediterrane Film Festival has three pillars of the show: Main Competition (Film from the Mediterranean), Competition (Global Choice) and Mare Nostrum or Our Ocean (dedicated to sustainability and environmental themes). The latter's jury includes Grainne Humphreys, long-time artistic director of the Dublin Film Festival, and Ania Trzebiatowska, senior programmer at the Sundance Film Festival.

In addition to the public screening of the festival, programming will also include panels, round tables and masterclasses from famous industry talents. Jury member Hardwicke will hold a dual position this year as she has been booked for discussions from filmmakers to support her film, Lord of many townsthere will be a 20th anniversary screening. Past speakers include Mike Leigh, editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (Poor thing), Oscar-winning production designer Nathan Crowley (evil), Actor Dean Margery Simkin (Top Cloud) and wrote Simon Franglen (Avatar: Water style).

This year’s festival is based on the theme of “We Are Movies”, which reflects the mission of the festival, bringing creators and audiences together to commemorate the universal language of films. It also coincides well with the major milestones in Malta: 100 years of film production in the region in 2025, dating back to its first feature film, 1925 The son of the sea. Since then, it has become a popular hub thanks to its architecture, landscape and water-based facilities at the Malta Film Studios. Films filmed in the area include Gladiator, Troy, Game of Thrones, Napoleon And more.

“As we celebrate 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, we're honored to welcome an exceptional panel of judges who reflect the depth, diversity, and global reach of contemporary cinema. Together with our festival curator, Mark Adams, we're committed to shaping a program that not only honors Malta's cinematic past but also champions bold new voices from across the Mediterranean and beyond,” said Calleja in a statement.

Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech added: "The Mediterranean Film Festival was born from a simple and powerful idea - linking creativity from the Mediterranean and across Europe and turning their ideas into reality. We represent opportunity, collaboration and creativity."