Between 17th and 19th October, we held the 3rd edition of ĊineAmbjent – Friends of the Earth Malta’s environmental film festival! This edition was our largest yet, with 17 movies across 6 different locations!
Over 225 people participated in the screenings – more than double our initial target – with audiences including young people, educators, activists, community members, and policy shapers. Some venues were almost full, and we even had to make space for extra seating at times!
Movies covered a range of topics including the struggles of farmers and fisherpeople in maintaining their livelihoods, deep sea mining, factory farming, hunting, conservation, and the struggles of indigenous peoples against colonisation. We also showed a number of movies intended for families and broader audiences, including animation films, biographies and documentaries. This year’s selection aimed to not only raise awareness about various issues but also cultivate empathy and inspire discussions and action for a better world for people and planet.
Many participants appreciated the hopeful tone of the programme, with one noting, “It was lovely to see environmental education presented in a way that felt creative and hopeful.” Another shared that “The stories of resistance and hope from around the world showed that change starts from small communities – even from islands like ours.” Throughout the festival, we also tried to showcase local environmental movies to highlight Maltese filmmakers’ growing contributions and engagement with environmental and social themes.
Six of the screenings were followed by facilitated discussions, Participants spoke with directors, producers, experts, and environmental advocates during several structured discussions and Q&A sessions. These included conversations with Alex Camilleri and Jesmark Scicluna after Luzzu, producer and anthropologist Mariah Ivie Cutajar after The Guardians of Pachamama, director Pablo D’Ambrosi after Food for Profit, and marine conservation expert Rosalyn Kamp after Deep Rising. Representatives from civil society organisations also contributed to discussions, helping bridge the space between storytelling, activism, and policy. The discussions were vibrant and engaging. Even when conversations took place amongst smaller groups, participants raised many points and questions, and discussions continued long after the credits rolled. People reflected on how to tackle systemic issues, what they can do as individuals and communities, compared the Maltese context with the realities shown in the films, and asked about the filmmaking process itself.
Some participants even commented later on on the topics dealt with during the discussions. One participant said, “Watching Luzzu and then hearing Jesmark talk about his experience made sustainability feel real and local,” while another reflected that “The discussion after Luzzu made me see how traditions and sustainability can coexist.” Similarly, following Deep Rising, which examined deep-sea mining, one attendee commented, “The discussion after Deep Rising made me realise how much is at stake in the deep sea, we never hear about these issues in Malta, even though we are an island surrounded by sea.”
The festival was also a space where young people could see how environmental storytelling connects directly to policy decisions. By bringing filmmakers, activists, experts, and engaged citizens into the same room, ĊineAmbjent strengthened the link between art, advocacy, and policymaking in a creative and accessible way.
Do make sure to keep an eye out for our next edition of ĊineAmbjent!
This year’s ĊineAmbjent is part of the EU co-funded project ‘Youth Policy Academy’. The project aims to encourage the involvement of young people in democracy and to promote transnational learning and cooperation amongst young people.
