ŻAFŻIFA
A film by Peter Sant
Malta Cinema Release Announced Following Cairo International Premiere
The new Maltese feature film Żafżifa, written and directed by Peter Sant and produced by Peter Sant and Angelique Muller will be released in Maltese cinemas on 13th May, 2026, screening at Embassy Cinemas Valletta, Eden Cinemas St Julian’s and Citadel Cinemas Gozo.
A special press première with Q&A will take place on 1st May 2026, at Eden Cinemas, St. Julian’s inviting members of the press to engage directly with the filmmakers.
The film premièred globally at Cairo International Film Festival with great success with one review stating it as “A quietly devastating achievement – one of the intellectually engaging works to emerge from this year’s festival.”
Shot on 16mm film with open sets and non-actors Żafżifa” is set in Buġibba, Malta. The film presents a corrosive portrait of a man who returns to the island to discover that his friends, taking advantage of the changing economy, have moved on with their lives. Haunted by a mysterious past, he seeks to free himself from the relentless progress that surrounds him.
Cast includes – Dimitrios Giannakoudakis (Malta), Crishelle Medrano (Philippines), Mehdi Aouni (France / Tunis), Zohaib Anjum (Pakistan), Emilia Figiel (Poland) alongside the late Marylu Coppini (mother-in-law of Peter Sant), who brings a poignant bookend to her masterful career, bringing her signature wit to this, her final performance.
