Malta Film Service

Malta Film Service is a production services company in St Julian's that helps filmmakers shoot in Malta. It was founded in 2020 by a group of experienced filmmakers and works across feature films, series, documentaries and commercials, with a focus on delivering a high standard of service to its clients.

For a UK producer, a production services company acts as your local base: it knows the locations, crews and permissions, and it handles practical tasks on the ground. You can see other firms in our video production in Malta directory.

Services from first idea to finished film

Ten services are on offer. Location scouting and pre-production prepare a shoot, while production planning and production itself cover the days in front of the camera. Accommodation and travel arrangements look after cast and crew, and coordination with local government covers the permits and permissions that filming in public places can involve.

Financial and tax planning, post-production, film marketing and packaging, and co-production complete the list. Post-production is the editing, sound and finishing stage after filming, and co-production means partnering with a Maltese company so that a project can be made across more than one country.

The 40 per cent cash rebate

The headline attraction is Malta's cash rebate for film spending. Malta's rebate is 40 per cent, with a 10 per cent advance available after the first full week of shooting. It applies to both above-the-line and below-the-line spending: above the line usually means the creative and principal talent costs such as producers, directors, writers and lead cast, and below the line means crew, equipment and other production costs.

Malta Film Service can also provide pre-financing by cash-flowing the rebate, so a production does not have to wait for the money. For suitable projects it invests its own equipment and vehicles as part of the deal. If you are comparing how tax works for companies on the island, our Malta corporate tax structure page gives wider background.

Locations and planning a shoot

Malta and its sister islands offer ancient walled cities, harbours, rugged coasts and bright, reliable light. Our guides to historic Valletta, walled Mdina, the Three Cities harbour towns, Gozo island and Popeye Village describe well-known places that attract filmmakers.

The company's website also has a section on the film history of Malta. Seasonal planning matters for any shoot, so our Malta weather guide shows what to expect month by month, and the Sliema area hotels near St Julian's are handy for cast and crew. The flights to Malta page covers getting there from the UK.

Choosing a production partner

When you compare production services companies, a few questions are worth asking. Which of the services above will be handled in-house, and which are subcontracted? How will the rebate be claimed and what paperwork will you need to supply? What equipment and vehicles can be offered, and will they be counted towards the production's costs? And who will be your day-to-day contact while you are on the island?

Drama, documentary and advertising shoots have different needs. A feature may need long-term crew and dressed locations, a documentary may need flexibility and access, and a commercial may need speed and a tight schedule. Mention the type of project and the budget range you have in mind so the team can judge how its services fit, and ask how the company approaches projects of that kind.

Getting in touch

Because the company serves productions of different sizes, it helps to say what you are making, your target dates, the locations you have in mind and whether you would like help with the rebate or financing.

Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Malta Film Service, who will reply to you directly.