LUZZU
This is a story about tradition in transition. Jesmark, born into a family of fishermen, goes out to the water in his lucu-a boat that this story is named after and which is as old as the tradition of fishing in Jesmark’s family. Lucu is covered in Jesmark’s footprints from when he was a baby as well as numerous repairs.
The waters are no longer the same, nor are the laws, which means that there are fewer fish and more regulations. Connected to the seawater, Jesmark can’t imagine doing anything else, even though selling illegal fish to the fishing mafia is the only thing keeping him financially stable. Facing the devastation that the modern world brings with itself, he has to decide: is he still a fisherman without his boat? Will he let down his father and inheritance if he backs out now?
Alex Camilleri is a Maltese-American filmmaker. He is an alum of both the Sundance and Film Independent labs, and currently preparing his feature-length directorial debut, Luzzu — a neorealist drama offering a rare look at Malta’s fishing industry and starring non-actors in the lead roles. Luzzu won national funding in Malta, was selected for the 2019 Les Arcs Works-In-Progress screening, and has been acquired by renowned sales company Memento Films International for release in 2021. As a film editor, his work has screened at major festivals; credits include Keep the Change (Best Film & Best Director, Tribeca 2017) and Blood Kin (Venice 2018, Sconfini), and as an Associate Editor on HBO’s Fahrenheit 451. He is currently preparing his sophomore feature, also to be set in Malta.
World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award – Sundance Film Festival 2021
Young Jury Award – Sofia International Film Festival 2021
Grand Prize – Skip City International D-Cinema Festival 2021
Luzzu (fic.)
Director: Alex Camilleri
Country: Malta
Year: 2021
Runtime: 94’
Language: Maltese, English
Cast: Jesmark Scicluna, Michela Farrugia, David Scicluna
Production: Noruz Films (I), Pellikola
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