Kinemastik is an NGO that sprung from necessity and idealistic hope. Established in early 2006, the founders have long worked within the realm of fringe film and theatre, both in Malta and in Europe. Kinemastik has established an environment where art and culture may flourish outside of the mainstream. Our target groups are youths and under represented minorities.

    Kinemastik is responsible for a year-round cultural programme that culminates with the International Kinemastik Short Film Festival. The festival is held over several days in July at various venues around Malta and Gozo. The highlight of the festival is the Westside Selekt weekend, open-air screenings held at the spectacular Gnien Il-Gardjola, a ravelin within the Valletta bastions overlooking the Grand Harbour. The venue has a 1,000-pax capacity.

    Kinemastik collaborates with international festivals and filmmakers. As well as providing the Maltese audience with diverse and peripheral projections, Kinemastik seeks to link young filmmakers in Malta to the world of cinema and provide them with a platform for their work, through local screenings as well as through worldwide distribution of locally produced short film. Kinemastik has also hosted several international filmmakers to provide master classes and workshops for the local industry.

    Kinemastik affiliates with Reasons for Living (MT), Tarragona Film Festival (SP), Cosmic Zoom (DK), Milano Film Festival (IT), Filmegruppe Chaos (Germany), Blu (IT), Straight 8 (UK), NextProject (RO), Le Gun (UK), Austin Underground Film Festival (USA), and Curtas Vila Do Conde (PT).

    Kinemastik is supported by Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, Din L-Art Helwa, British Council, St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Film Commission and Vogue Printers.