John Cleese among winners at Golden Bee Awards
Monty Python and Fawlty Towers star honoured with Icon Award as Mediterrane Film Festival comes to a close
John Cleese was among the winners at this year’s Golden Bee Awards, which brought the 2026 edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival to a close.
The British actor, comedian and writer, best known as a founding member of Monty Python and for creating and starring in the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, received the Golden Bee The Icon Award.
Cleese was presented with the award by Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech during the ceremony.
The Golden Bee Awards mark the conclusion of the Mediterrane Film Festival, which was held in Malta between June 21 and 28. The awards recognise films, performances and industry figures across a range of categories, including feature film, screenwriting, original score, Mediterranean cinema and lifetime achievement.
Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers won the Golden Bee Award for Best Feature Film, while Ed Solomon won Best Screenwriting for the same film.
The Golden Bee Rising Star Award went to Dove Cameron, while the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Andy Harries.
Danny Elfman won the Golden Bee Award for Best Original Score for Dead Man’s Wire.
The Big Screen People’s Choice Award went to Kiah Roache-Turner for Beast of War, while the Mare Nostrum People’s Choice Award was won by Jeanie Finlay for All Rivers Spill Their Stories To The Sea.
Vincent Pace received the Golden Bee Award for Entrepreneur in Film.
Haley Bennett won the Best Performance Award for her role as Katharine Hilbery in Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day.
The Special Jury Award went to Eya Bouteraa for In a Whisper, while the Golden Bee for Best Mediterranean Film was awarded to Leyla Bouzid for the same film.