Atlas Film Fixers

Atlas Film Fixers is a production services company that places local fixers in filming territories around the world, and Malta is one of its regions. For a UK producer, director or brand planning a shoot on the islands, the Malta team acts as the person on the ground who knows which office issues which permit, how long each step takes and where to find crew, kit and locations at short notice.

Its people see themselves as producers who understand what is at stake rather than a simple service desk, which explains the scope of the work: from paperwork and customs to on-set coordination, insurance and risk management. You will find Atlas Film Fixers in our directory of video production companies in Malta, alongside other businesses serving the screen and content industries.

Why productions choose Malta

Malta has stood in for Ancient Rome, medieval Europe and the modern Middle East in productions such as Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Troy, Jurassic World: Dominion and Assassin's Creed. The appeal is a mix of fortified harbours, baroque streets, quiet villages and a sunny coastline, all packed into a small area so a unit can move between very different looks in a single day, saving travel time and money.

English is one of the two official languages and widely spoken, the currency is the euro, and Sicily lies only 80 km to the north. Malta's experienced crew base has worked on many large international productions, and the islands have established production facilities. The climate allows filming all year, though June to October brings the longest, warmest and most reliable days for outdoor work; our Malta weather guide by month gives a fuller picture.

Locations the Malta team works with

The fixers scout and secure locations across all three inhabited islands. Valletta, the fortified capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers golden limestone, narrow lanes and harbour views for period and urban scenes; our Valletta guide shows what the city looks like today. Mdina, the Silent City, has a medieval atmosphere that has served fantasy and historical drama, and our guide to Mdina covers its streets and gates.

Fort Ricasoli, a vast coastal fortress at the entrance to Grand Harbour near Kalkara, has doubled for ancient cities and battlefields, and the surrounding area is covered in our Three Cities guide. Many of these bastions date from the era described in our history of the Knights of Malta. Marsaxlokk brings colourful fishing boats and a waterfront market, while Rabat supplies rural townscapes.

For the sea, Gozo has rustic villages, high cliffs and the Inland Sea, and the Blue Lagoon on Comino has clear water and pale sand suited to underwater work, travel content and romance. Readers new to the sister island can start with our Gozo guide. Filming on private land is handled too: the team scouts the property, approaches the owner and draws up a formal location agreement.

Permits, drones and customs

Most public filming in Malta is licensed by the Malta Film Commission, and Atlas works closely with it to speed up approvals. An application normally needs the script or storyboard, a shooting schedule, a list of locations, a budget and synopsis, and proof of liability insurance of at least €1.5 million. Processing usually takes 7 to 10 working days and the published cost runs from €100 to €500. Roads, historic sites and restricted buildings need consent from the relevant ministry or local council, and shoots on Gozo or Comino may also need the Ministry for Gozo or the Environment and Resources Authority. Stunts, explosions and night work call for longer lead times and risk assessments.

Aerial filming comes under the Civil Aviation Directorate and EU aviation safety rules. Drones must be registered, the pilot needs an EU remote pilot certificate, and the operator needs €1 million of liability cover; applications take 5 to 10 working days and cost €300. Extra clearance is needed over crowds, heritage sites, military areas and controlled airspace near Malta International Airport, and Atlas works with certified local drone pilots to manage the process.

Kit coming from inside the EU moves easily. Productions from outside the bloc, including the UK, bring equipment in temporarily under an ATA Carnet or temporary import declaration, with every item listed by serial number and value. Clearance typically takes 2 to 4 hours and costs €50 to €200, and Atlas can act as importer of record and handle the brokerage.

Crew, visas and equipment

The team keeps a vetted network of local professionals: assistant directors, production managers and art department staff; grips, gaffers, camera assistants and drone operators; stunt coordinators and marine specialists; and translators, drivers, caterers and medics. Union coordination and translation sit within the service, as do pre-production budgeting and scheduling.

Equipment can be hired locally or shipped in with Atlas's help, from ARRI and RED camera packages to boats and special effects gear. For crew who need one, a Schengen visa for film work allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180, takes around 15 calendar days and costs €80; applicants need a passport valid at least three months beyond the trip, travel medical insurance of at least €30,000 and a letter from the production. Crew accreditation takes 5 to 10 working days at €300 per person. Atlas also arranges lodging, ground transport and catering, and the hotels in Sliema and St Julian's are a common base for visiting units, with flights from the UK to Malta taking around three hours.

The Malta film rebate

Malta's incentive scheme pays a cash rebate of up to 40% on qualifying local spend for feature films, television series, documentaries and commercials, provided the production spends at least €100,000 in Malta. Eligible costs include crew wages, location fees, equipment hire, accommodation and post-production.

Applications go to the Malta Film Commission with a detailed budget and project plan, approval usually takes a few weeks, and the money is paid after the shoot once audited accounts have been submitted. Atlas guides productions through the application, keeps the paperwork in line with audit requirements and deals directly with the commission so the payout runs smoothly.

Who leads the Malta operation

Peter is the company's film fixer in Malta. He has a detailed knowledge of the local industry and its Mediterranean locations, a strong network of contacts and hands-on production experience, and he keeps long-standing relationships with the film commission, local authorities and suppliers.

The wider company works in many countries, with its head office in Mauritius, so a producer filming in several territories can keep one point of contact. Projects range from intimate documentaries and fashion editorials to tourism campaigns, streaming series and high-budget drama, and services are tailored to the scale and timeline of each job, whether that is a single scene or a schedule across several islands.

Safety on set and on location

Malta is regarded as a safe place for film crews, and the Malta Film Commission itself helps with location management, permits and logistics. Sensible precautions still apply: crews should keep an eye on their surroundings, use secure storage for cameras and lenses overnight, and coordinate with the local authorities whenever a scene involves crowds or closes a public space.

Atlas builds these points into its planning, alongside production insurance and risk management on the day. Because the local team speaks Maltese, understands the culture and has good relationships across the public and private sectors, problems on location can usually be solved quickly. Producers can also ask for the team's Malta location deck and country fact sheet when they first get in touch.

Starting a project

The quickest way to get a realistic plan is to share the basics early: the format, rough dates, crew size, the kinds of locations you have in mind and whether you will fly drones or bring in kit from outside the EU. With that, the team can map out permits, timings, local crew and a transparent budget, and flag anything that needs a longer lead time.

Send those details using the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page, and we will forward your message to the Atlas Film Fixers team, who will reply to you directly.