Maltese Film Żejtune Premieres At Tribeca Film Festival In New York

Maltese feature film Żejtune, directed by Alex Camilleri, has celebrated its North American premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York, where it is competing in the festival’s International Competition.

The screening took place in Manhattan on 6 June before a near-capacity audience. Director Alex Camilleri was joined by producers Oliver Mallia and Ramin Bahrani, lead actress Michela Farrugia and actor Nenu Borg for the occasion. Members of the Maltese community living in New York were also among those in attendance.

Following the screening, the cast and crew participated in a question-and-answer session with festival audiences.

The event concluded on a memorable note when Borg treated attendees to an impromptu performance of spirtu pront. The film has since enjoyed a second screening, with a final festival showing scheduled for 11 June.

Żejtune remains in contention for several awards, including Best International Narrative Feature, Best Performance and the Audience Award.

Co-founded by Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro, the Tribeca Film Festival is regarded as one of the most important cultural events in the United States and a significant platform for international filmmaking.

Meanwhile, Żejtune continues to perform strongly at home. Now in its tenth week in Maltese cinemas, the film has attracted around 9,000 cinemagoers across Malta and Gozo, making it one of the most successful local productions in recent years.

The film follows Mar, a young woman eager to leave Malta behind, whose outlook changes after meeting an ageing għana singer who reconnects her with the island’s traditions and cultural heritage.

Following successful screenings in Sweden and Malta, Żejtune is set to continue its international festival run with upcoming premieres in France, Spain and Croatia.

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