Maltese adventure thriller The Boat is one step closer to becoming an international smash hit now that it has secured a number of deals in 10 different countries and regions. The UK-based sales agent Carnaby International has confirmed the deals following successful private showings at the Cannes Film Festival.

The film has already received high praise for its atmospheric and mysterious story and aesthetic, and director Winston Azzopardi knew he had a great movie on his hands – but he still didn’t expect such a positive response so soon, especially considering the film hasn’t even been launched yet. 

“We didn’t expect to secure the deals so quickly, because we haven’t officially launched the film yet, and we haven’t launched in English-speaking territories like North America, these were many of the other countries,” he said. “The film will be launched at the Toronto Film Festival on the 6th of September and we are hoping to sell it to those countries then.”

Tim Grohne, the president of international and production at Carnaby International, was just as excited about the film’s prospects. 

“The Boat is a fantastic film based on a simple idea. We’re thrilled it has now found its rightful place with some of the world’s most talented distributors,” he said.

The territories include Benelux (Dutch Filmworks), France (Metropolitan Filmexport), Germany (Splendid Film), Scandinavia (Mis. Label), Latin America (Impacto Cine), Middle East (Front Row), South Korea (Green Narae Media) and Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines (Suraya Film).

Directed by Winston, starring his son Joe Azzopardi and produced and written by the pair, The Boat is about a fisherman lost in deep mist who boards an abandoned sailboat. He goes beneath deck, but when he returns he finds his own boat has disappeared. As the vessel heads into unknown waters, his journey becomes all the more unpleasant.

The film will screen again for buyers at London Screenings in June before heading to the launch at the Toronto Film Festival.

The Boat was filmed in the open Maltese seas as well as the world famous tanks at Rinella, and was shot in 22 days.

Are you excited to see The Boat?

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Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]