Malta is sometimes called the Hollywood or Bollywood of the Mediterranean, because so many films have been made here. From 13 Hours to Troy, literally hundreds of big-budget films have been filmed on the island in recent years.

However, very few of those films are actually Maltese-produced. Instead, they usually come with foreign teams flying in to use the island as a backdrop. This week, though, you’ve got the chance to see a film that is Malta-made, Malta-produced, and starring home-grown Maltese actor Joe Azzopardi, in a one-man nautical adventure that guarantees to make you a little seasick (in a good way).

That film is The Boat, a creepy thriller that charts the terror-filled adventures of a fisherman (played by Joe) who sets out on his boat for an idyllic day at sea, only to sail into an abject nightmare when crashing into a yacht. He boards the vessel to discover it is deserted...before realising his own boat has vanished. Adrift, alone and abandoned, he has to rely entirely on his wits to survive.

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the film and, hands down, it is one of the best thrillers I have seen of late. Impressively, and despite the fact that Joe is the only character in the piece, the result is 90 minutes of non-stop, edge-of-your-seat action, with all sorts of brilliant twists and turns.

Mostly set out at sea, much of the film was made in the famous water tank within the Malta Film Studios in Rinella, just beyond the Three Cities. “Although some of the scenes were shot on open water, most were filmed in the tank,” Joe explains. “We actually built a marquee around the tank so that we could film some of the scenes, particularly those that were very foggy and misty. There’s no way we would have been able to shoot those out at sea, so the tank made everything possible.”

Joe explains that the Studios have a team of people who are experts in creating water-based special effects. Director Winston Azzopardi explains that they, combined with the film’s SFX coordinator, helped create his vision for the film. “The tank definitely helped everything come together – including the big night shots, the storms, the rain, and the breaking waves hitting the deck of the boat. We always knew that a film of this genre could only be made inside a water-based facility. We were lucky to have one right here in Malta!”

And, while the film has received rave reviews internationally, and Winston has even been nominated for a Best Director Award at the UK’s National Film Awards 2019, it is only set to have its local premiere tonight – but that is already completely sold out. “We’re thrilled by how warmly people have welcomed the film, and we’re eager to unveil it tonight!” Joe smiles.

Luckily, if you’ve haven’t snagged tickets to tonight’s do, you’ll still be able to catch the movie in a few days’ time. “The Boat will have a run at Eden Cinemas from 27th February, which will give more people time to see it. We hope they will enjoy it, before it heads off on its next journey along more of the festival circuit internationally,” Joe adds.

Catch The Boat at Eden Cinemas from 27th February. Tickets available here. Watch the trailer here.