Tender for new Malta Film Studio sound stage to be issued in the next few weeks

Malta is set to issue an international tender in the coming weeks for the construction of a new ‘land–sea super stage’ at Malta Film Studios in Kalkara, said Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech.

The planned infrastructure will form the centrepiece of a wider expansion of Malta Film Studios, positioning the facility as a specialised production hub capable of combining traditional sound stage filming with complex marine and water-based shoots.

The facility is expected to feature a 4,000-square-metre floor area, a 26-metre-high roof structure capable of supporting heavy equipment, and an environment-controlled indoor water tank positioned near the existing deep tank.

Mr Grech, speaking to Screen Global Production, has described the project as a unique proposition for international filmmakers, highlighting its ability to combine large-scale indoor and marine filming capabilities within a single location. The long-term objective, he said, is to ensure that complex franchise productions can find all required infrastructure on the island.

Malta Film Studios has historically been recognised for its water-based facilities, with its original tank opening over six decades ago and the deep tank introduced in 1979. The new sound stage is intended to build on this legacy and further expand Malta’s technical offering.

Since 2018, the Malta Film Commission says that around 200 productions have filmed on the island, generating approximately €730 million in expenditure and supporting roughly 1,800 full-time jobs within the local industry. The sector continues to rely heavily on international productions, particularly from the UK and US, which account for an estimated 70–75 per cent of inward spending.

Malta’s film incentive framework, including a cash rebate scheme of up to 40 per cent on eligible Maltese expenditure, remains a central pillar of the country’s strategy to attract large-scale productions. Mr Grech has argued that the investment delivers a multiplier effect for the economy, with every euro spent on rebates generating multiple euros in return for the treasury.

Recent and upcoming productions filmed in Malta include Gladiator II, Napoleon and Jurassic World Rebirth.

A long time coming

The planned tender for a new land–sea super stage comes after years of discussion around the need for sound stage infrastructure in Malta.

In 2020, the Malta Film Commission announced plans for three sound stages at Malta Film Studios, describing them as a key missing element in the country’s film offering. Despite repeated references to the project in subsequent years, no construction followed.

The lack of progress drew scrutiny in Parliament last year, when Opposition MPs asked for updates on the status of the project. Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said the information was still being compiled.

Industry stakeholders have also questioned whether enough emphasis was being placed on infrastructure. Speaking to BusinessNow.mt last year, local filmmaker Matthew Maggi said Malta risks losing productions to competing jurisdictions because its facilities are not keeping pace, arguing that the absence of a sound stage remains a significant gap in the country’s production capabilities.

The issue has been debated alongside spending on promotional initiatives such as the Mediterrane Film Festival, which has faced criticism over its multi-million-euro cost.

While the Film Commission has defended the festival as a tool to attract international productions, Mr Maggi argued that greater investment in permanent infrastructure would deliver stronger long-term returns.