Żejtune Selected As Malta’s Official Submission For 99th Academy Awards

ŻEJTUNE, written and directed by Alex Camilleri, has been selected as Malta’s official submission for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

The film was chosen by the Malta Academy Selection Committee (MASC), established by the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) and the Malta Producers’ Association (MPA), following an evaluation of this year’s eligible submissions.

Told almost entirely in Maltese, ŻEJTUNE follows Mar, who returns to Malta intending to leave her connection with the country behind while claiming her inheritance. Guided across the islands by an 80-year-old għana troubadour, she gradually reconnects with Malta’s culture, landscape and traditions. The film explores the country through its language and living folk music heritage.

ŻEJTUNE premiered in competition at the Göteborg Film Festival and later had its North American premiere at the Tribeca Festival, where it won Best Screenplay in the International Narrative Competition. It has since screened at several international festivals, receiving awards including the Audience Award at the Split Mediterranean Film Festival and Best Sound and Music at Cinema Jove in Valencia.

The film has also connected with local audiences, attracting more than 11,000 cinema admissions in Malta, while being sold to 22 countries including France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

ŻEJTUNE is the second feature film by Alex Camilleri, whose debut film LUZZU premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and was Malta’s submission for the 94th Academy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the films accepted as eligible, followed by any shortlist and nominations, at a later stage.

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