Johann Grech’s film festival features party held in ‘unwelcome’ floating restaurant

As part of Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech’s annual film festival extravaganza, guests at this year’s edition were treated to the dubious honour of a “sunset party” held on a floating restaurant, which several local councillors described as “unwelcome”.

During this year’s edition of the Mediterrane Film Festival, which has become synonymous with unfettered spending and an opaque public procurement process, one of the events featured “a memorable evening” on ‘Noma Island’ – a barge that other countries rejected.

The event, which lasted from 7.30 – 11.15 pm on Friday, included shuttle services to Valletta Cruise Port. An invite seen by The Shift clearly notes that the invite was sent by “The Mediterrane Film Festival Team”.

“As the venue features uneven outdoor surfaces, we kindly recommend wearing flat shoes, flat sandals, or block heels for your comfort and safety. Please note that stiletto heels are not permitted. We look forward to welcoming you for a memorable evening,” the invite read.

While specific costs for the event featuring Noma Island remain under wraps so far, The Shift has reported that the public tender for the festival’s design contest was awarded to Greatt Company Ltd for a total of €4.4 million – €1 million more than the original version of the same tender.

The floating restaurant venue has courted controversy wherever it’s appeared in Malta and abroad, with mayors from the towns of Sliema, Mellieħa, and Għajnsielem, as well as a local councillor from Valletta, all voicing concerns about the commercial establishment.

Sliema Mayor John Pillow published a video on social media on Friday showing the floating restaurant barge near Qui-Si-Sana’s coastline on the evening before the Film Festival do was held.

“I already said that, as mayor, I do not accept this floating venue in Sliema’s ports. Today, I contacted Transport Malta again about this, and I asked them whether they have the right to be here. Their answer was that it had have permission to moor here because it’s a licensed barge,” Pillow said.

“Despite the fact that this is clearly a commercial establishment, Transport Malta still gives them permission to anchor here. I am promising Sliema residents that I will keep following up on this. If this is causing disturbances, I will report it,” Pillow added.

Valletta local councillor Ylenia Montfort, who spotted the vessel in nearby waters on Friday as well, published a social media post stating that the council was monitoring the vessel’s movements and asking her followers to contact her with any footage or comments they may have about it.

Back in March, Mellieħa Mayor Gabriel Micallef also expressed similar concerns when the floating venue showed up in the area, noting that “introducing a large entertainment structure in an environment that is already so busy raises serious concerns regarding safety, noise, environmental impact, and enforcement.”

Għajnsielem Mayor Kevin Cauchi, whose jurisdiction also extends to Comino, was rather blunt in his assessment, describing the floating restaurant as “very unwelcome” and lamenting the way the authorities appeared to be passing the buck about who is meant to regulate the unusual establishment’s activities.

As reported in foreign media, Noma Island found its way to Malta after it was forced out of the French Riviera, where it was met with protests over the same environmental concerns being raised in Malta.

After the barge was acquired by event organisers 356 Entertainment Group, known primarily as the owners of UNO Club in Ta’ Qali, Noma Island made appearances along several parts of the Maltese islands’ coastline, earning condemnation from local councillors, activists, and citizens at every destination.

The four primary Maltese shareholders of the group are Trevor Randolph Camilleri, Francesca Manduca, Edward Zammit Tabona, Gerald Debono, and Nicholas Spiteri. The group has a history of ‘advantages’ gained by its close association with the Labour Party.