https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/296 Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:12:24 GMT 2026-09-22T19:12:24Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149253 Title: How can Maltese films be sold internationally : a qualitative approach to distribution research Abstract: This study explores fundamental topics that serve as the foundation on how Maltese films can be sold abroad. Three crucial research questions emerged from the literature analyzed which shape the direction of this study: what are the distribution channels open to Maltese filmmakers internationally?; how do sales agents facilitate the sales of films from small countries?; and what do Maltese films require to be sold abroad? In-depth semi- structured interviews were carried out with both Maltese filmmakers and foreign sales agents to identify whether their expectations correlate. The findings of this study confirm that multiple distribution channels are accessible to Maltese filmmakers, with sales agents utilizing key strategies, such as film festivals, diverse markets - including VOD, and non- commercial opportunities, to maximize their effectiveness. Furthermore, the results highlight that while there is no specific criteria Maltese films must follow to be sold abroad, there are factors which contribute to making such efforts a reality, such as following certain legalities. This notion further adds weight to why attaching a sales agent to a film production is crucial since they hold the necessary knowledge and expertise that guide filmmakers through unfamiliar territories. This study’s research also outlines other elements which contribute to the necessity of global distribution for Maltese films, including the enrichment of the indigenous film industry, a widening of opportunities for Maltese cinema, and the resulting understanding in the difference of local and global distribution dynamics. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149253 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149247 Title: The influence of film adaptations on book cover design : a qualitative study on readers and non-readers Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between film adaptations and book cover design, to address how film imagery influences the perceptions readers and non-readers have of the original literary works. It takes a look at Frankenstein (1818), Dracula (1897), and The Phantom of the Opera (1909)—three frequently adapted novels—in order to confirm whether visual changes made from book to screen have been conflated with what was originally written. It also addresses how these visual changes printed on book covers affects consumer expectations and purchasing behaviour. Qualitative methods were used, including a semiotic analysis on some of the OFCs (outer front covers) belonging to the aforementioned novels; and focus groups divided between readers and non-readers. The semiotic analysis guided the selection of covers presented in the focus groups, which allowed the participants to engage with the discourse surrounding book cover design, and to gain a deeper insight into their thoughts and opinions. This helped to establish the symbiotic relationship shared between film and book cover design; and how certain imagery impacts recognition, perceived accuracy, and purchase appeal. The results indicate that both reader and non-reader perception of the novels is notably influenced by film imagery; and that the most significant difference between the two groups is in their book cover design preferences: although both favoured accuracy, the reader group preferred having a vague representation of a book’s content. However, design was noticeably favoured to accuracy on a case-by-case basis, even though what they often all considered to be accurate was also what they thought had the best design. This could provide a reason for why film imagery continues to be reused in both new film and TV adaptations, and on book covers, in spite of its tentative connection to the original work. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149247 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148948 Title: Responsible food production and sustainable consumptionin Italian restaurants : a pathway to SDG 12 Authors: Basilico, Paolo; Camilleri, Mark Anthony; D'Adamo, Idiano; Di Santo, Federica; Gastaldi, Massimo; Maccalini, Anna Chiara Abstract: The pursuit of sustainable business approaches has gained increasing importance in the past years. Entrepreneurs are increasingly reassessing their strategies and operations in line with corporate social and environmental responsibility principles. Restaurants are well positioned to play a key role as agents for positive change, as they can offer nutritious, high-quality food. At the same time, they could minimise food loss and waste. They may even contribute to local economic development through the promotion of short supply chains among other responsible practices. This study examines consumer behaviours and perceptions of responsible food production and sustainable consumption within the Italian hospitality industry. It focuses on factors that influence the consumers' dining choices and their willingness to engage in environmentally responsible actions. The research adopts a social analysis perspective based on data collected from an online survey of 609 respondents in Italy. The findings indicate that consumer decisions are primarily motivated by hedonic factors, especially taste and the quality of ingredients. Awareness of sustainable practices tends to increase by time and is more evidenced among women, who also show a greater propensity to adjust their habits in more sustainable ways. Despite a general interest in sustainability and a willingness to pay a premium for certified establishments, there remains a limited understanding of restaurants' environmental impacts and low familiarity with sustainability certifications. These research implications highlight considerable opportunities for growth. This contribution postulates that enhanced communication strategies and targeted awareness campaigns could improve consumer knowledge, foster more informed choices, and encourage active support for sustainability initiatives in the restaurant sector, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148948 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148440 Title: On the swing : temporariness and intercultural communication competence among migrants from Türkiye in Malta Authors: Erben, Şeyma Esin Abstract: This study examines the intercultural communication competencies (ICC) of migrants from Türkiye living in Malta. The research employs mixed-methods research design, combining a questionnaire completed by 105 participants with six months of participant observation. The study engages in a critical theoretical dialogue with approaches that treat ICC as an individual skill repertoire and instead discusses ICC as a relational practice shaped by structural and contextual conditions. The findings indicate that while language proficiency is significantly related to ICC, its explanatory power remains limited. The length of stay in Malta does not appear to be directly related to ICC. Field observations suggest that this may be linked to a widespread experience of transience, with many participants positioning Malta somewhere between permanent settlement and a stopover. In this context, migrants frequently socialize within their own cultural groups and other international migrant networks; Malta's character as a society shaped by intensive migration may further sustain this pattern. A negative relationship is observed between social network homogeneity and ICC, while a positive relationship emerges between ICC and openness to the local community. These findings suggest that treating ICC as a relational practice shaped by social network structures, settlement intentions, and the migration context may offer greater explanatory value than approaches focused on individual skills alone. This study contributes to existing discussions in the ICC literature by highlighting the structural and relational dimensions of ICC from the Maltese context.; Bu çalışma, Malta'da yaşayan Türkiye doğumlu göçmenlerin kültürlerarası iletişim yetkinliklerini (KİY) incelemektedir. Araştırma, 105 katılımcıyla gerçekleştirilen bir anket ile altı aylık katılımcı gözlemini birleştiren karma yöntemli bir araştırma tasarımı kullanmaktadır. Çalışma, KİY'yi bireysel bir beceri repertuarı olarak ele alan yaklaşımlarla eleştirel bir kuramsal diyalog kurmakta ve KİY'yi yapısal ve bağlamsal koşullar tarafından şekillenen ilişkisel bir pratik olarak tartışmaktadır. Bulgular, dil yeterliğinin KİY ile anlamlı biçimde ilişkili olduğunu ancak açıklayıcı gücünün sınırlı kaldığına işaret etmektedir. Malta'da kalış süresinin KİY ile doğrudan ilişkili olmadığı görülmektedir. Alan gözlemleri, bu durumun yaygın bir geçicilik deneyimiyle ilişkili olabileceğini ve birçok katılımcının Malta'yı kalıcı yerleşim ile geçici bir durak arasında konumlandırdığını düşündürmektedir. Bu bağlamda göçmenler sıklıkla kendi kültürel grupları ve diğer uluslararası göçmen ağları içinde sosyalleşmekte; Malta'nın yoğun uluslararası göç alan bir toplumsal yapıya sahip olması da bu örüntüyü pekiştirebilmektedir. Sosyal ağ homojenliği ile KİY arasında negatif bir ilişki gözlenirken KİY ile yerel topluma açıklık arasında pozitif bir ilişki ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu bulgular, KİY'nin yalnızca bireysel beceriler üzerinden açıklanmasının sınırlı kalabileceğine ve sosyal ağ yapıları, yerleşme niyetleri ve göç bağlamı tarafından şekillenen ilişkisel bir pratik olarak ele alınmasının daha açıklayıcı olabileceğine işaret etmektedir. Bu çalışma, Malta bağlamından hareketle KİY'nin yapısal ve ilişkisel boyutlarını görünür kılarak KİY literatüründeki mevcut tartışmalara katkıda bulunmaktadır. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148440 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z