Żejtune Director Alex Camilleri Wins Best Screenplay Award At Tribeca Film Festival | Lovin Malta
Maltese writer and director Alex Camilleri has won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival for his feature film Żejtune. The award was presented during the festival’s…
Maltese writer and director Alex Camilleri has won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival for his feature film Żejtune.
The award was presented during the festival’s awards ceremony in New York, where Żejtune competed in the International Competition section, one of Tribeca’s most prestigious showcases for contemporary world cinema.
The screenplay was selected by an international jury made up of film executive Amanda Trokan, producer and Marrakech International Film Festival director Mélita Toscan du Plantier, and actor Benedict Wong.
Speaking during the ceremony, Wong praised Żejtune for drawing audiences into a unique world while allowing its lead performances to shine.
Accepting the award, Camilleri said it was an honour to tell stories from Malta and thanked Tribeca for giving the film a platform to share Maltese culture with international audiences. He also paid tribute to the cast, producers and crew behind the production.
Co-founded by Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro, the Tribeca Film Festival is one of the leading cultural events in the United States and a major platform for international cinema.
Żejtune celebrated its North American premiere in New York on 6th June and went on to receive two additional screenings during its festival run. Camilleri attended alongside producers Oliver Mallia and Ramin Bahrani, lead actress Michela Farrugia and actor Nenu Borg.
The film follows Mar, a young woman determined to leave Malta behind, whose plans are disrupted when she meets an ageing għana singer whose music reconnects her with the island’s traditions and cultural heritage.
Following its success at Tribeca, Żejtune will continue its international festival journey with screenings in France, Spain and Croatia later this month.
The film is currently in its tenth week in Maltese cinemas and continues to screen daily at Embassy Cinemas in Valletta, with additional screenings planned at Spazju Kreattiv in the coming weeks.
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