The filming industry had already injected €29 million into the economy but the best was “yet to come” this year, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said in Parliament today.

He was answering a parliamentary question by opposition MP Jason Azzopardi.

Dr Zammit Lewis said figures for this year’s expectations would be announced soon.

To a question by Anthony Agius Decelis (PL), he said courses had been started in Gozo for Gozitans to be better equipped to respond immediately to the industry’s needs. The recent film in Gozo (Angelina Jolie’s By the Sea) had shown the sector in Gozo was not prepared enough.

Dr Zammit Lewis said the filming sector was very delicate and at best offered sporadic activity. But the government was doing better in its efforts to develop a year-round operation.

There were currently three films shooting in Malta, creating problems for suppliers to an industry that could be very exigent and demanded services in real time.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150602/local/malta-film-industry-the-best-is-yet-to-come-minister.570781