‘My Dearest Mother’ Ends Confident Year with International Festival Recognition and Private Screening | Lovin Malta

After a year in the making, “My Dearest Mother”, a Maltese short film written and directed by Michael Bonello Ghio, is beginning to find its place on the international indie…

After a year in the making, “My Dearest Mother”, a Maltese short film written and directed by Michael Bonello Ghio, is beginning to find its place on the international indie film circuit- a quietly fitting conclusion to its production journey, and a promising opening chapter for what lies ahead.

The film recently received “Best Debut Short Film” alongside an Honourable Mention at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival, and was also selected as a finalist at the “Remember the Future” World Film Festival in Cannes. These early acknowledgements offer steady momentum rather than spectacle, positioning the project among a diverse slate of contemporary short films emerging across Europe and beyond.

Closer to home, the production marked a more intimate milestone this week with a private screening at the Embassy Cinema in Valletta, attended by cast, crew and family members. For those involved, the screening served as a meaningful way to close off the year- finally seeing a year of collaborative work reach the screen, shared with the people who supported it from the outset.

At the heart of “My Dearest Mother” are performances by Marama Corlett and Jane Marshall, both delivering restrained yet deeply affecting turns. Corlett also co-wrote the film alongside Bonello Ghio, shaping a narrative that is both powerful and carefully observed. Their collaboration gives the film much of its emotional clarity, allowing silence and nuance to do as much work as dialogue.

Behind the camera, the film brought together a strong cross-section of Maltese creative talent. Clive Brincat served as Director of Photography, with music by Edd Carabott, makeup by Lyanne Sawyer and Julia Bachesque, and hair by Beatrice Micieli and Pasang Sherpa. The team also included Giuliano Piccione and Srdjan Tintor (sparks and grip), Robert Bonello( production sound), Mattea Fenech and Nick Theuma (set design), with VFX also by Theuma, costumes by Geneva Corlett, and behind-the-scenes photography by Benji Zammit. The film was produced by David Grech and supported by Arts Council Malta.

“Creating this short film was an incredible experience, and bringing Marama on-board as co-writer was perfect. I couldn’t be happier with all the crew who gave this project their all, and I cannot thank the Arts Council enough for funding this project,” said director Michael Bonello Ghio as he reflected on the project. 

As “My Dearest Mother” now looks towards a broader international run throughout 2026, its strength lies less in grand claims and more in the confidence of its craft- a film shaped with focus, grounded in collaboration, and now beginning to find its audience beyond Malta’s shores.

Well done on this remarkable success!

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