Regulations, 2023

L.N. 16 of 2023

MALTA FILM COMMISSION ACT

(CAP. 478)

Malta Film Commission Act (Substitution of Schedule)

Regulations, 2023

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 33 (2) of the

Malta Film Commission Act, the Minister responsible for the film

industry has made the following regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is the Malta Film

Commission Act (Substitution of Schedule) Regulations, 2023, and

these regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Schedule

to the Malta Film Commission Act, hereinafter referred to as "the

Schedule".

(2) These regulations shall be deemed to have come into force

on the 1st January 2023.

The Schedule shall be substituted by the following new

Schedule

"Schedule

(Articles 25 and 33)

An audiovisual production shall be deemed to be a "qualifying

production" as mentioned in article 25 if it satisfies the following

conditions

(a) the audiovisual work concerned is partially or wholly

carried out in Malta (including works related to animation and

visual effects activities together with post-production); and

(b) processed to commercial release standards, for local

and, or international distribution for theatrical release, TV

Broadcast and video on demand and subscription video on

demand platforms; and

(c) makes a valid contribution to the expression of

creativity and culture through the development of production

capability skills in the audiovisual sector; and

(d)

the audiovisual work concerned is categorised as

(i) "feature film" means a film which includes

those shot direct-to-video, where the film is commonly

screened as the main attraction in commercial cinemas, and

is of a duration of not less than sixty (60) minutes, or in the

case of a large format (IMAX) film of not less than forty-

five (45) minutes;

(ii) television, video on demand or subscription

video on demand production (including film, series or

mini-series including pilots)

(aa) "television, video on demand or

subscription video on demand film" means a drama

(meaning a composition which tells a story through

the development of any theme and plot, by means of

dialogue and action and the portrayal of characters,

settings, and life situations) of a like nature to a

feature film capable of being exhibited on television

where the television movie is not less than one (1)

commercial television hour in length, or in the case of

a programme predominantly utilising cell, stop

motion and, or computer animation not less than one

half (½) commercial television hour, and is shot and

processed to commercial release standards, for

cinema exhibition or domestic and international

television broadcast; or

(bb) "television, video on demand or

subscription video on demand series" or "television,

video on demand or subscription video on demand

mini-series" means an episodic television drama,

including animation, which is either an extended but

self-contained drama made for television wherein the

key dramatic elements of character, theme and plot

are introduced, developed and concluded so as to

form a narrative structure (similar to that of a novel)

which features a major continuous plot enhanced by

minor plots and there is the expectation of an ending

that resolves the major plot tensions and is arranged

into consecutive episodes for screening purposes; or

an anthology of drama works for television where the

key dramatic elements of character, theme and plot

are introduced, developed and concluded so as to

form a narrative structure within each episode

(similar to that of a novel or a short story) and is

made to be broadcast under one generic title, and is

shot and processed to commercial release standards,

for domestic and international television broadcast;

(iii) "creative documentary" means a project based

on an original theme which contains a certain ''timeless"

element so that there is no loss of interest when the event

with which the theme is linked has passed and contains

significant original filming and is not limited to the

reporting of information;

(iv) "reality programmes (scripted or unscripted)"

means programmes which may be live or recorded and

directly or indirectly promote the Maltese Islands and its

culture;

(v) "game or competition shows" means shows

which may be live or recorded and directly or indirectly

promote the Maltese Islands and its culture;

(vi) "short film" means an original motion picture

that has a running time of forty (40) minutes or less,

including all credits.".

€0.27