Żejtune
Spring Grants 2024 - Post-Production Stage
Alex Camilleri / Feature Narrative / Malta, Germany, Qatar / 105 min / Original Language: Maltese / Interests: Drama, Music
Synopsis
At 25, Mar feels like life’s already at a dead-end. She dreams of escaping her tiny island home of Malta, leaving behind her troubled past and judgmental family. When her estranged mother suddenly passes away, Mar learns about an inheritance of valuable farmland scattered across the island and sees it as a means to finally pursue her dreams abroad. However, to sell these long-lost lands, she must locate them before her greedy relatives lay their claim and leave her with nothing. As she embarks on her quest, Mar meets Nenu, an elderly troubadour who agrees to help her navigate the unfamiliar terrain. The old man’s free spirit and surprising philosophies challenge Mar, and soon, he opens her ears to the mesmerizing tradition of “għana,” Maltese folk singing. As they road trip around the island, Mar becomes increasingly connected to the country she wants to leave, even trying to help Nenu resolve a decades-old wound in his own family. The unlikely pair share a journey that leads them deeper into one another’s hopes and regrets. Mar soon discovers that her friendship with Nenu has an unexpected price.
Credits
- Director
- Alex Camilleri
- Screenwriter
- Alex Camilleri
- Producer
- Oliver Mallia, Ramin Bahrani, Alex Camilleri
- Production Company
- Solari Productions, Noruz Films, Pellikola
About the Director
Alex Camilleri is a Maltese-American filmmaker. His debut feature, 'Luzzu,' premiered to wide acclaim at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won a Special Jury Award for Acting for Jesmark Scicluna, a Maltese fisherman appearing in his first film role. The film went on to screen at New Directors/New Films, BFI London Film Festival, and collected numerous jury, audience, and directing awards on the festival circuit. 'Luzzu' has been released theatrically in 20+ territories around the world and was Malta's submission to the 94th Academy Awards. Camilleri won the 2022 "Someone to Watch" Independent Spirit Award and a 2023 Guggenheim Award in support of his upcoming film, 'Żejtune'. He is represented by WME.