Veteran journalist Lino Cassar passes away

Veteran journalist and film critic Lino Cassar died on Thursday at the age of 78.

Cassar, winner of the Gold Award from the Institute of Journalism in 2007, served as editor of Iż-Żmien, founded and edited the satirical newspapers Ix-Xewka and was a regular contributor to a number of newspapers, including It-Torċa and the Labour Party's newspaper Kullħadd.

Cassar was also a pioneer in film criticism and served as chairman of the Board of Film and Stage Censors and as managing director of the Mediterranean Film Studios.

The Labour Party issued a statement expressing its condolences and described him as "a pillar of local journalism."

The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) conveyed its condolences to Cassar's family and friends.

The institute described Cassar as "a human encyclopaedia in cinematography."