Luzzu

SYNOPSIS: Jesmark, a Maltese fisherman, contends with a newfound leak in his wooden LUZZU boat. Barely getting by, he sees his livelihood—and a family tradition from generations before him—imperiled by diminishing harvests, a ruthless fishing industry, and a stagnating ecosystem. Desperate to provide for his wife and their newborn son, whose growth impediment requires treatment, Jesmark gradually slips into an illicit black-market fishing operation.

DIRECTOR: Alex Camilleri

Alex Camilleri is a Maltese-American filmmaker. He is an alum of both the Sundance and Film Independent labs, 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”.

Directed by:Alex Camilleri

Year of production: 2021

Country: Malta

Duration: 1h 35m