Malta officially becomes a member of Council of Europe’s film support fund
Minister, Arts Council hail strategically important step for audiovisual industry
Malta has officially become a member of Eurimages, the Council of Europe’s film support fund, marking an important step for the country’s domestic audiovisual sector and its integration into the European cultural landscape.
Culture Minister Owen Bonnici described the development as a strategically important step for Malta's audiovisual industry. He said Malta’s membership of Eurimages reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its cultural and creative sectors through transparent, merit-based structures.
“This step opens up new opportunities for local film producers to collaborate at an international level and compete on a European scale,” Bonnici said.
The membership followed a comprehensive evaluation process led and coordinated by the Malta Arts Council. As part of the process, a Maltese delegation travelled to Strasbourg to formally present and defend Malta’s accession report before Eurimages representatives.
Arts Council executive chairman Luke Dalli said Malta’s accession to Eurimages represents a historic step for the domestic film industry.
He said it marks the moment Maltese film producers move decisively onto the European co-production stage, with access to networks, partners and funding that can transform ambition and potential into tangible realities.
Dalli said the development is not only recognition of the quality and maturity of local producers, but also a strategic opening for Maltese stories to be developed, financed and shared internationally.
Eurimages is the Council of Europe’s cultural support fund and has been active since 1989. It includes 38 of the organisation’s 46 member states, along with Canada. The fund has a total annual budget of around €27.5 million, derived mainly from contributions by member states as well as returns on loans granted by the fund.