In July 2008, the Simshar fishing boat carrying three Maltese fishermen, a young Eritrean migrant and an 11-year-old boy went missing.

Only Simon Bugeja, young Theo’s father and the owner of the boat, survived to tell the tale.

The extraordinary story is now being turned into a film, which a local production company is making for international audiences.

A teaser trailer has already been filmed and released online, where its crisp visuals are generating a great deal of interest. In four days, it was viewed more than 7,000 times.

The film itself has not yet been made but filming is expected to start this year.

“The teaser trailer is in fact aimed at film investors in order to complete funding,” writer and director Rebecca Cremona says.

Although titled Simshar, the film also weaves in the issue of illegal immigration, another unfolding tragedy in 2008 as Malta and Italy fought over who should be responsible for migrant boats at sea.

Supported by Bank of Valletta, Air Malta, the Malta Film Fund and River Dream, the film is expected to be Malta’s first feature-length film for international audiences.

The trailer can be watched on www.simsharthefilm.com.