Mdina is proud to stand among four other locations around Europe, in the shortlist for the European Film Commissions Network Location Award for 2024! Every year, outstanding locations used in film are selected by the Location Awards Jury, competing for a jury as well as an audience award, the latter being selected by the public through online voting.

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Mdina was selected for the significant role it played in the 2023 film Napoleon, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role. Malta’s Silent City was transformed into Paris for the film, with French flags and new store signs lining Mdina’s streets to authentically recreate the setting.

The other locations shortlisted for the two awards are Frøya in Norway from ‘Billionaire Island’, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna for ‘The Regime’, the Stuttgart Opera in Germany for ‘Cranko’ and Tajogaite Volcano on the Canary Islands, featured in the Spanish film ‘La Hojarasca’ (The Undergrowth).

Online voting for the EUFCN Audience Location Award is open to the public till 31st January 2025, with the award results usually presented at the Berlinale Film Festival in February. Last year’s winner was Inis Mór, the largest of Ireland’s Aran Islands, an isolated and rugged island that was a key location for ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, directed by Martin McDonagh, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

Did you spot Mdina’s iconic streets while watching ‘Napoleon’?