2006
Straight 8 is a guerrilla kind of film movement that was started by Ed Sayers and Ben Gregor of London ad production house Godmans. They have been organising the super 8 mm film festival for several years now. The rules of their game are: each film-maker gets a single cartridge of super-8 film to make his or her three-minute epic, which is then handed back, undeveloped and unedited, along with a three-minute soundtrack.
Kinemastik, Din L-Art Helwa and St James Cavalier hosted a night of Best Straight 8 films 2005 in the Red Tower in Mellieha Bay.
Kinemastik and Din L-Art Helwa also hosted a fund-raising night of music and visuals at Torri Mamo, Marsascala.
DIN L-ART HELWA is a NGO with the aim of safeguarding the natural, historic and cultural environment of Malta and Gozo.
The second festival took place on the 14th & 15th of July at Gnien Il-Gardjola, Valletta.
With the cooperation of St. James Cavalier centre for creativity and the British Council, Kinemastik was able to provide a space for both local and foreign filmmakers to present their works in a unique manner. The event also served as an occasion for audiences in Malta to recognise and acknowledge the cultural value of the short form expression.
Local film enthusiasts had the opportunity to meet and interact with four British filmmakers from the Royal College of Arts (UK) who attended the event courtesy of the British Council, Malta. The filmmakers provided a workshop and discussion held at St James Cavalier.
British poet/performer Zena Edwards was also present to open the festival with her electrifying performance. Malta’s fabulous folk band, Etnika, provided spirtu pront musical collaboration.
