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Premiere screening of two short films: Blood Ties and Storbju

The Faculty of Arts at the University of Malta is proud to announce the premiere screening of Blood Ties and Storbju, two short films produced by students enrolled in the M.A. in Film Studies programme.

The premiere screening will take place on Sunday, 28 June, at 18:00 at the Valletta Campus Theatre, University of Malta – Valletta Campus.

Both selected scripts were written by the students themselves as part of intensive script writing units under the guidance of Franz Rodenkirchen and Françoise von Roy, two of Europe’s most sought-after script consultants.

The M.A. in Film Studies programme has once again welcomed acclaimed Italian film directors Silvia Luzi and Luca Bellino, who are currently overseeing the production and shooting stages of the two short films.

This screening marks an important milestone in the students’ creative journey, showcasing local talent, dedication, and collaborative work involved in bringing original cinematic stories from script to screen.

Blood Ties follows Paul, a devoted husband and father who appears to lead an ordinary life. However, a shocking revelation forces him to question everything he thought he knew about himself and his family. As hidden tensions begin to surface, Paul is compelled to confront the invisible battles unfolding within his everyday life.

Set against a backdrop where games and conflict mirror one another, Blood Ties explores themes of love, loyalty, and the fragile bonds that hold a family together.

Storbju follows Musa, a young gas distributor whose life is drowned out by noise. Amid the relentless sounds of survival, he longs for something more—the rhythm of a football at his feet and the pulse of a dream he has carried for years.

However, when his mentor Charlie unknowingly reveals his plans to retire and leave the delivery business in Musa’s hands, Musa finds himself torn between the future he has always dreamed of and the loyalty he feels toward the man who became the father he never had.

Storbju is a story about ambition, sacrifice, and the difficult choices that arise when dreams collide with duty.

Members of the public are invited to attend the short-film screening, which will take place at 18:00 at the Valletta Campus Theatre. To reserve a seat, kindly send an email to richard.gambin@um.edu.mt, as places are limited.