Malta Film Commissioner: Who Runs Malta’s Film Industry in 2026

Every big movie shot in Malta, from Gladiator II to Jurassic World Rebirth, passed through one office. That office is led by the Malta Film Commissioner. Here is who holds the post in 2026, what the job involves, and why it matters to movie fans everywhere.

Johann Grech is the Malta Film Commissioner. He has held the post since 2018 and leads the Malta Film Commission in Kalkara. His job is to attract international film productions to Malta through a 40% cash rebate.

Who Is the Malta Film Commissioner?

The current Malta Film Commissioner is Johann Grech. He was appointed in late 2017 and took charge in 2018. He replaced Engelbert Grech, who had held the role since 2013. Before this post, Johann Grech served as Malta’s Head of Government Marketing from 2013 to 2017.

The Malta Film Commission itself is much older. It started as a film liaison office in 1999. Today it operates from the Malta Film Studios in Kalkara. Its single purpose is simple. Bring film and TV productions to Malta and grow the local economy through them.

What Does the Malta Film Commissioner Do?

The Malta Film Commissioner sells Malta to the world’s studios and streamers. The role covers four main areas.

1. Financial incentives. Malta offers a 40% cash rebate on eligible spending. This is one of the most generous film incentives in Europe. The commissioner manages and promotes it.
2. Production support. The commission helps studios with locations, permits, crews and logistics once a project lands in Malta.
3. Workforce development. Around 1,800 Maltese crew members now work in film, up from about 300 before 2018. A new €2 million scholarship fund supports crew training.
4. Global marketing. Grech created the Mediterrane Film Festival as a business tool to bring producers, directors and executives to the island.

Which Big Movies Did He Bring to Malta?

The list is impressive. Ridley Scott shot both Napoleon and Gladiator II in Malta under Grech’s tenure. He returned to the same locations where he filmed the original Gladiator 25 years earlier. Fans of that era of cinema can revisit our picks of epic action films from decades past worth rewatching to see why these classics still hold up.

Universal brought the Jurassic World franchise to Malta twice, for Dominion and Rebirth. Netflix filmed Enola Holmes 3, starring Millie Bobby Brown, on the island in 2025. If you track new streaming premieres, our regularly updated list of upcoming OTT movie releases covers when titles like these reach digital platforms in India.

In 2026 alone, 17 projects have filmed in Malta. These include six feature films, TV series, animation projects and co-productions.

Malta’s Film Growth in Numbers

The numbers explain why the Malta Film Commissioner gets global attention. Around 200 productions filmed in Malta over eight years, with a combined Malta spend of about €730 million. A Central Bank of Malta study puts the industry’s total gross value added above €1.5 billion since the cash rebate launched. The government reportedly earned four times what it spent on incentives.

About 70% of projects filming in Malta come from the UK or the US. The UK signed a memorandum of understanding with Malta in 2023, making it a key partner.

The Mediterrane Film Festival

Grech founded the Mediterrane Film Festival in 2023 as a marketing tool for Malta’s film industry. The fourth edition ran in Valletta from June 21 to 28, 2026, under the theme “Beyond Together”. The 2026 programme expanded to five strands, including a Big Screen Competition and a local Malta Focus section. Winners receive the Golden Bee Awards.

The festival doubles as an industry event. Past guests include Catherine Hardwicke, Mike Leigh and Oscar-winning production designers. If festival winners and theatrical premieres interest you, see our guide to the best films playing in theatres this June for what reached Indian screens the same month.

What Is the Land-Sea Super Stage?

The Land-Sea Super Stage is Malta’s biggest planned film infrastructure project. It is part of the wider Malta Film Studios redevelopment in Kalkara. The plan combines a purpose-built soundstage with Malta’s famous outdoor water tanks, which have served sea-based productions for decades. Malta has discussed building a soundstage since 1964. Grech calls it the missing piece of the island’s film offer. Construction progress continued through 2026.

Does This Matter for Indian Cinema?

Yes, and directly. When Johann Grech took the post, he stated his interest in attracting emerging film industries, naming India specifically. Malta’s 40% rebate applies to international productions, including Indian ones. The island’s fortresses, harbours and water tanks suit period dramas, action films and sea-set stories. Indian producers looking for European locations with strong incentives already have Malta on their shortlist.

FAQs

Who is the current Malta Film Commissioner?

Johann Grech. He was appointed in late 2017, took office in 2018, and remains in the post as of July 2026.

What is Malta's film rebate?

Malta offers a 40% cash rebate on eligible production spending. It is among the highest film incentives in Europe.

Where is the Malta Film Commission based?

At the Malta Film Studios in Kalkara, near Valletta. The studios include Malta’s well-known outdoor water tanks used for sea scenes.

Which famous movies were filmed in Malta recently?

Napoleon, Gladiator II, Jurassic World Dominion, Jurassic World Rebirth and Netflix’s Enola Holmes 3 all shot in Malta.

Bottom Line

The Malta Film Commissioner post is one of the most influential film jobs in Europe right now. Johann Grech turned a small seasonal servicing industry into a year-round production hub with 1,800 local crew and €1.5 billion in economic value. His next test is delivering the Land-Sea Super Stage. If it opens as planned, expect even more blockbusters to carry a “filmed in Malta” credit.