VALLETTA: The minister of Tourism, Edward Zammit Lewis, expressed his firm commitment to work towards creating a sustainable film industry, while transforming Malta and Gozo into unique film destinations.

Radu Jude’s Aferim! was awarded Best Romanian Film, Best European Film and has also won Best Director, Best Romanian Actor (Teodor Corban) and Audience Award at the Best Film Fest 2016. The winners were chosen by the vote of film critics and journalists, and were announced during a gala held on 28 January 2016.

ZAGREB: The Croatian media is speculating that Star Wars: Episode VIII might be shot in Dubrovnik, as the Croatian Audiovisual Centre neither confirms nor denies it.

ZAGREB: More than 160 films have been selected for all the 17 categories of the 12th ZagrebDox, of which 24 titles will vie in the International Competition. The festival takes place from 21 to 28 February 2016.

TBILISI: The Georgian National Film Center allotted 222,519 EUR/ 600,000 GEL for the production of two debut features in 2016.

PRAGUE: Applications for the development workshop Ex Oriente are open until 4 May 2016.

PRAGUE: Xavier Giannoli‘s period drama Marguerite, which is a Czech coproduction and was shot entirely in the Czech Republic, received 11 nominations for the French national awards Césars, including Best Film and Best Director. The ceremony will take place on 26 February 2016.

BUCHAREST: The tragedy which took place at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest on 30 October 2015, killing 63 young people and injuring dozens, will be described in a documentary produced by Discovery Networks.

BRATISLAVA: The multi-awarded docudrama Nicky’s Family by Matej Mináč was broadcast by BBC on its first channel on 27 January 2016, on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.