Simshar director signs with Hollywood management company ahead of Oscar race

The Oscar race for Best Foreign Language Film is underway in Los Angeles, and for the first time Malta is participating. Simshar is one of 83 films competing for the five nomination spots which will compete for the ultimate award during the 87th Academy Awards ceremony to be held next February.

Inspired by true events which occurred around the Maltese islands in 2008, Simshar tells the story of a family of Marsaxlokk fishermen who end up stranded in open water after an accident on the namesake vessel, and go on to get embroiled in the ongoing irregular immigration stirring waves in the same sea.

Malta’s Ambassador to the United States, Marisa Micallef, attended one of the campaign screenings of the film for Academy voters. “I was delighted to watch the film amongst these top industry professionals who received it so well. Many people in the USA are as yet unaware of the huge challenges faced by Malta and this very interesting film highlights the human faces behind these challenges.”

The film’s reception has resulted in the signing of the film director Rebecca Cremona with Management 360; one of the top management companies in Hollywood who represent A-list directors, writers and actors such as Julianne Moore (actress – Magnolia), Marc Forster (director – WWZ) and Mark Boal (writer – The Hurt Locker).

This phase of the project has been supported by the Ministry for Economy, Investment, and Small Business. The film itself is the result of various private investments, and benefitted from the Film Fund grant as well as the initiatives offered by the Film Commission.

“The conception of the film occurred in December 2008 and for the following six years work on Simshar has been ongoing, overcoming several challenges. The film was indeed only possible thanks to the hard work of the crew, cast, local councils and multiple private and government entities which supported the project, Cremona said. “Simshar is nothing short of a national effort, and we are happy to be representing Malta in Hollywood,” she added.

Simshar will be back at Embassy Cinemas, Valletta on January 7 for a limited run of two weeks.

Click here to read our review of Simshar

Click here to read our interview with Rebecca Cremona