The Malta Film Commission has issued a request for proposals for a major concession covering the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the Malta Film Studios complex in Kalkara. The tender, issued under reference MFC/1/2026, represents one of the largest concessions brought to market in Malta this year and is structured to attract international studio operators, infrastructure investors and construction groups.
The concession will be awarded on a build, finance, operate and transfer (“BFOT”) basis. The successful tenderer will be responsible for financing and developing new film-production facilities on a site measuring approximately 92,400 square metres, operating the studios throughout the concession period, and transferring the facilities back to the contracting authority upon its expiry.
Concession value and financial structure
The estimated concession value is €744,067,545. This figure does not represent the project’s construction cost; rather, it reflects the estimated undiscounted revenue available to the concessionaire over the full 65-year concession period, including anticipated income from studio, workshop and office rental and ancillary activities.
The concessionaire will retain the revenue generated from operating the facilities but must pay an annual concession fee following an initial four-year moratorium. An annual ground rent of €73,402 will also be payable from the first anniversary of the emphyteutical deed. No government grant, guarantee or other financial support will be provided, and the concessionaire must secure all financing required for the project independently.
Development scope and timeline
Construction and development must be completed within 48 months of the effective date. The proposed facilities comprise three principal zones: a Deep Tank and Super Stage Facility, a Shallow Tank Facility, and a Head Office Production Facility. Development must commence with the Deep Tank and Super Stage, described in the request for proposals as the first global “Land-Sea Super Stage.”
Eligibility and evaluation
Prospective bidders must demonstrate an average annual turnover of at least €20 million and access to a minimum €17 million credit facility for the development phase. Technical requirements include demonstrable experience in film-studio management, soundstage development, the construction and operation of water tanks within film-studio complexes, and servicing major audiovisual productions. Consortium participation and reliance on the resources of third parties are permitted, subject to the detailed conditions set out in the procurement documents.
The concession will be awarded on the basis of the best price-quality ratio, with technical quality carrying 90% of the evaluation and the proposed annual concession fee accounting for the remaining 10%. Tenderers must meet the prescribed technical thresholds before their financial offers are considered.
Key dates
A clarification meeting and site visit will be held on 28 Eylül 2026 at 11:00 at the Malta Film Commission’s offices in Kalkara. The deadline for requesting further information is 16 Kasım 2026, and proposals must be submitted electronically by 7 Aralık 2026 at 09:30.
| Key term | Detail |
| Contracting authority | Malta Film Commission |
| Reference | MFC/1/2026 |
| Concession model | Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (BFOT) |
| Site | Kalkara, approximately 92,400 sq. m |
| Estimated concession value | €744,067,545 (undiscounted revenue over the concession term) |
| Concession term | 65 years |
| Construction period | 48 months from the effective date |
| Annual ground rent | €73,402, payable from the first anniversary of the emphyteutical deed |
| Concession fee | Payable annually after an initial four-year moratorium; no government grant or guarantee |
| Minimum average annual turnover | €20 million |
| Minimum credit facility | €17 million, for the development phase |
| Evaluation | Best price-quality ratio: 90% technical quality, 10% concession fee |
| Clarification meeting and site visit | 28 Eylül 2026, 11:00, Malta Film Commission offices, Kalkara |
| Deadline for clarifications | 16 Kasım 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 7 Aralık 2026, 09:30 |
How CLA Malta can help
A concession of this scale and duration presents a significant opportunity for cross-border operators and investors, but also demands rigorous financial preparation before a bid is submitted. Meeting the turnover and credit-facility thresholds, structuring a consortium across multiple jurisdictions, and modelling returns over a 65-year term all require careful advance planning.
CLA Malta supports prospective bidders and their advisers with financial feasibility studies and cash-flow modelling over the concession term, tax structuring for the concessionaire vehicle and any consortium or joint-venture arrangements, audit and assurance support to evidence turnover and financial standing as part of the eligibility criteria, and outsourcing and accounting support for the entity once operational. Businesses considering this opportunity, whether as lead bidders, consortium members or financing partners, are encouraged to seek advice early, given the scale of the financial commitments involved and the compressed timeline to the 7 Aralık 2026 submission deadline.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, legal or other professional advice. It is based on publicly available procurement information as at 10 Eylül 2026 and does not account for any subsequent clarifications, addenda or amendments issued by the Malta Film Commission. No action should be taken on the basis of this article without obtaining specific professional advice tailored to the reader’s circumstances. CLA Malta accepts no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this publication.