Sarah was on Maltese television last month on the talkshow Illum Ma' Steph chatting about all things cats and documentaries. You can watch the interview here. And if you haven't seen the film yet, check it out, it is streaming worldwide.
Japan Fun
Representing Cats of Malta in Japan was a career changing experience, one we will never forget. We have so many pictures and videos of our time in the eclectic city, while visiting the cinemas and attending the advance screening and Q&A. If you're yet to experience the power Maltese cats have to unite an island and capture the hearts of people the world over, the film is streaming worldwide.
Cats of Malta Theatrical Screenings in Japan
Ever since we began filming cats in Malta back in 2019 as a way to do some camera tests, leading to the idea of producing a feature documentary which became Cats of Malta, we dreamed about one day showing the film in Japan.
Japanese tourists have an affinity with Maltese cats, with the giant cat statue in Sliema being a favourite tourist hotspot, as highlighted in the film.
Artist Matthew Pandolfino re-painting his famous ‘Saint of the Cats’ sculpture.
So it is great joy we can announce that Cats of Malta has landed Japanese distribution. The film will be showing in cinemas across Japan on January 10th 2025.
Cats of Malta poster and back of the promo flyer courtesy of Fine Films.
We will be working closely with our distributor as well as our patner Malta Tourism Authority Japan to make the release as big as it can be, and from the promotion material we have seen already, we are super excited.
Find the latest on the event website.
BEST CAT FILM
It’s official, Mexico loves cats and Cats of Malta!
The shorter, 21 minute version of Cats of Malta has been rewarded MEJOR CORTOMETRAJE DE GATOS (Best Cat Film) at the 6th annual FAUNA Tepoztlán Animal Festival.
We can't wait to release this film this year. Keep up to date with all the Cats of Malta news by joining the newsletter for exclusives.
Film Director Sarah Jayne interviewed on YouTube Channel 'The Independents'.
Sarah Jayne was interviewed last week by filmmaker Dia Taylor of Taymaynari Productions for her YouTube Channel The Independents.
A former production designer, turned film director talks film and about her extensive experience as an independent filmmaker. Click here to watch.
Cats of Malta Christmas Special Interview
Just when we thought it was safe to sign off for Christmas, the last interview for Cats of Malta in 2021 is happening this Saturday on ONE TV. Yes, it’s a special Christmas edition!
Check out Pink Panther on ONE TV Christmas Day 6pm Central European Time (CET), where you can see director Sarah Jayne talking Cats of Malta in Maltese and English.😺🇲🇹 You can also watch online here.
We will be sending the details out in a Cats of Malta newsletter later this week and we have the link up on the website when it's available.
Cats of Malta Preview Screenings at Local Cinemas | Nexus Production Group Press Release
Are you ready for Malta's first cat movie?
Cats of Malta celebrates Malta's cat culture while highlighting the Maltese community spirit. Produced by Nexus Production Group and sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority and Borg Cardona & Co., Cats of Malta is having its first preview screening at Eden Cinemas on November 25th November, 9pm.
Director and producer Sarah Jayne Portelli reflects, “I've always felt a connection to Malta and its locals, but what surprised me was the unavoidable presence of stray cats. Curious why there were so many strays, who looks after them and how cats influence Maltese culture, I chatted with locals and the cat community to ask these questions and many more.”
A big part of Malta’s cat culture is the island’s stray cat population and the people who — through volunteering, art and folklore — show the cats unconditional love and support. The filmmakers visited popular colonies, cat cafes and sanctuaries, talked to artists, and sourced stories from locals and business owners about their favourite felines. They compiled all the heartfelt stories into a fun, family-friendly documentary that will make audiences feel a rainbow of emotions.
Coming on board as sponsors are The Malta Tourism Authority – who constantly work to promote Malta as a cat-loving island worldwide – and local pet food company Borg Cardona & Co.,– solid supporters of Malta’s cat community and animal NGO's. As part of Borg Cardona’s sponsorship in collaboration with Royal Canin Malta, they will hand out cat food vouchers at the Eden Cinemas screening to the feeders featured in Cats of Malta to help them look after their cat colonies.
Cats of Malta stars Maltese artist Matthew Pandolfino, creator of the giant cat sculpture overlooking Independence Garden, actor and feeder Polly March, former Two Buoys restaurant owner Michelle Deguara and feeder Saviour Gilson, Spinola Bay's Cat Village matriarch Roza Zammit Salinos, Animal Guardian’s Cat Cafe volunteers Karmen Coleiro and Caroline Borg, plus Malta’s youngest cat feeder, Isaac Muscat.
Not to mention a lot of adorable cats.
The first preview screening at Eden Cinemas on November 25th, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers, is part of a limited run of special preview screenings exclusive to Malta. Two encore preview screenings follow at Spazju Kreattiv on November 27th and December 3rd, before the film is submitted to festivals and officially released by Nexus Production Group worldwide in 2022.
Nexus Production Group is run by prolific Australian filmmaking duo Ivan Malekin and Sarah Jayne Portelli. Ivan served as producer and editor on Cats of Malta, while Sarah Jayne is the producer and director. Individually, the filmmakers each have fifteen years of experience producing, writing and directing short and feature-length independent films in Europe and Australia, including Daughter (2016), Friends, Foes & Fireworks (2018), and Maltese feature films In Corpore (2020) and Machination (2021). Since 2017 Ivan and Sarah Jayne have called Malta home.
Preview Screenings
Thursday, November 25th @ Eden Cinemas
9pm, Screening + Q&A
Tickets are now on sale here
Saturday, November 27th @ Spazju Kreattiv
5:30pm, Encore Screening
Tickets are now on sale here
Friday, December 3rd @ Spazju Kreattiv
9pm, Encore Screening
Tickets are now on sale here
Contact
Email: Sarah Jayne & Ivan Malekin
Phone/WhatsApp: Sarah Jayne Portelli
+356 99322412
Website
Cats of Malta Kickstarter
After 10 months of pouring our hearts and soul into this cat focused documentary, we are now in post production – so close to the finish line! We have an ambitious goal but we KNOW that with our incredible cat-loving audience and soon-to-be new fans around the world, we can do this. YOU can do this!
Please take 2 minutes to go to our Kickstarter page, check out our project, and consider supporting our campaign.
A family friendly story about Malta's underrated cat culture, how these stray felines unite the island, enhance the landscape, radiate positivity and bewitch the human population – believe it or not – needs help getting in front of people.
SO TAKE A TRIP THROUGH MALTA WITH US, MEET THE CATS, THE FEEDERS, THE ARTISTS & HEAR THEIR STORIES.
Check out the video below and go the campaign page here:
Documentary on Stray Cats of Malta enjoys National Airtime
It was a pleasure to have been invited to talk and present our documentary feature film Cats of Malta on Animal Diaries. The lifestyle show, hosted by Moira Delia airs live every Saturday night on the Maltese National Television Station (TVM Malta) and aims to “raise community awareness of the vulnerability of animals and the importance of conserving Maltese species and other endangered species through educational experiences”.
A short clip edited together by the film’s editor and cinematographer Ivan Malekin was played at the beginning of the interview, giving audiences a small sneak peek into this feature-length documentary and this was followed up by a chat with director Sarah Jayne.
The episode, aired October 24th, is now online and you can watch the full interview with Sarah Jayne below.
The Cat's out of the Bag
Unbeknown to us we scored some media attention for the third time this year from Guide Me Malta, the film they focused on was our local cat lovers documentary Cats of Malta.
While we were conversing with talented Maltese street artist Matthew Pandolfino we were being watched, and so was the art. Matthew’s feline sculpture is famous on Instagram, well known by the locals and is hard to miss when driving along Sliema’s promenade. She sits proudly on a toilet block, looking out above Independence Garden (also known as Cat Park).
Some say that the sculpture is a cat god, looking out for the cats in the garden, but whatever powerful being she is, we were lucky enough to contact Matthew about talking to us on camera just as he was giving her a fresh coat of paint.
We visited Matthew on three separate occasions while the sculpture went from a coloured abstract design to the new luna theme. We can’t wait to put the edit for this section of the doco together and tell the story!
Check out both articles relating to Cats of Malta and Matthew’s cat overhaul in these articles from May 9th and May 17th.
Cats of Malta Begins Production
Production has began on our feature documentary Cats of Malta about the many stray cats of the island and the people who care for them. Our first interview was with Matthew Pandalfino as he re-painted his giant cat sculpture in Sliema, a popular tourist attraction, and we were there to document the process and learn more about why cats are so beloved in Malta. We have more interviews lined up so stay tuned to our website for updates and adorable pictures of cats.
And if you are in Malta and know a cat feeder with an interesting story to tell, we want to speak to them. Get in touch with us.
