Maltese filmmaker Alex Camilleri has described winning the Best Screenplay Award for his feature film Żejtune at the Tribeca Film Festival as a significant moment not only for himself, but for Maltese cinema as a whole.

The award was presented during the festival's awards ceremony in New York, where Żejtune competed in the International Competition section, one of Tribeca's most prominent showcases for contemporary world cinema.

Speaking to WhosWho.mt following the achievement, Mr Camilleri said the recognition was an acknowledgment of the many people who helped bring the story to life.

“Winning the screenplay award at Tribeca was deeply meaningful – not only as recognition of my own work, but as an acknowledgment of the many people who brought those words to the screen,” he said.

Mr Camilleri praised the film's cast and crew, highlighting the contribution of producers Oliver Mallia and Ramin Bahrani, as well as the wider team who spent years developing the project.

The director also reflected on what the award could mean for the future of Maltese filmmaking.

“We are a tiny country that has rarely told its own stories on screen,” he said. “I hope this recognition signals to Maltese filmmakers – and to those who fund and support them – that local stories have a place on the international stage.” 

He also suggested that Malta remains a rich source of untapped stories for the screen. “Malta is teeming with stories for the screen,” he said. “I think we've only just begun to scratch the surface of what can be done here.”

While noting that international festival success remains difficult to achieve, he stressed the importance of continued investment in Malta's indigenous film sector.

“Global competition is fierce and only getting stronger. That's why sustained investment and responsible stewardship of Malta's indigenous film sector is so critical,” he said, adding that he remains optimistic about the opportunities ahead for Maltese filmmakers.

Żejtune explores themes of identity, heritage and belonging through the relationship between its protagonist, Mar, and an għana singer. According to Mr Camilleri, the idea for the story emerged after discovering that the traditional folk music form was proving more resilient than he had initially expected.

“When I began researching this film, I was surprised to find that għana wasn't the fading tradition I expected,” he explained. While many practitioners were older, he frequently encountered younger participants, giving him confidence that the story could reach a hopeful conclusion.

The filmmaker contrasted the cultural challenges facing għana with those explored in his previous feature, Luzzu, which centred on Malta's traditional fishing industry.

“Folk music isn't as vulnerable to the same industrial or environmental forces as traditional fishing,” he said. “Perhaps here, we can imagine how a piece of our culture might survive the rapid modernisation we are witnessing all around us.”

Mr Camilleri added that one of the most rewarding aspects of the film's release has been hearing from families who attended screenings together.

“The most rewarding messages I've received from Maltese audiences are those describing how multiple generations of a family went to see the film together,” he said. “I'm proud that the film seems to be sparking conversations between generations.”

Despite the growing international recognition surrounding Żejtune, Mr Camilleri said the success has not altered his approach to future projects.

“International recognition hasn't really changed my thinking about future projects,” he said. “I'm already at work on new ones, following where my interests lead regardless of how Żejtune performs.”