Taxpayers fund movie stars’ lavish trips to government’s new film festival

Foreign guests were treated to business class, five-star hotels, private chauffeur service and more, the Times of Malta reported.

Industry sources said that the Film Commission’s excessive spending did not really foster the Maltese film industry in the long-run.

They estimate that the total cost of the film festival must have exceeded at least €1 million.

Some guests were offered a chauffeur service and were treated to all-expenses-paid lunches, dinners and parties.

Among the celebrities were Jared Harris, Eric Bana, Darko Peric, Natascha McElhone, Annabelle Wallis and award night host David Walliams.

They were joined by around 70 other industry representatives, such as film judges, critics and journalists, and film commissioners from around the world.

Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and Film Commissioner Johann Grech have declined to indicate how much the film festival will cost taxpayers.