Unveiling Malta’s cinematic identity : exploring national style in Maltese cinema (Bachelor's dissertation).

Abstract

Malta’s indigenous film industry has received relatively limited attention within academic discourse. This study seeks to address that gap by examining whether a distinctive national aesthetic can be discerned in Maltese cinema produced between 2014 and 2024. Focusing on the works of key local filmmakers—Alex Camilleri (Luzzu), Rebecca Cremona (Simshar), Valerie Buhagiar (Carmen), Carlos DeBattista and Abigail Mallia (Limestone Cowboy, Castillo), and Keith Tedesco (Uwijja)—the research adopts a postcolonial framework to explore how Maltese identity is constructed and expressed on screen. The findings reveal a shared commitment to authenticity, with directors often drawing on local landscapes, language, and traditions to portray everyday Maltese life. Moreover, the study identifies hybridity and liminality as central to Malta’s cinematic storytelling, reflecting the island’s complex cultural position at the crossroads of Europe and the Mediterranean. In doing so, the research contributes to a broader understanding of how small-nation cinemas negotiate identity, history, and global visibility.