Russell Crowe remembers the intensity of Ridley Scott ” ‘

A moment ago in Ridley Scott Gladiator When Russell Crowe’s Roman general, General Romain Maximus, fresh for the evisceration of five enemies in a short time, throws his arms in the air and asks for an amazed arena: “Are you not entertained?” Aren’t you entertained? “

It would not be so far from the fiction to imagine the organizers of the Golden Bee Awards on Sunday evening repeating the same question after the presentation of the final show to close a ceremony of almost three hours held inside the Fort Manoel from Gzira to Malta. Presented by the Mediterrane Film Festival and hosted by David Walliams, the outdoor show finished timid midnight and at that time had presented a dozen musical numbers (with accessories, rescue dancers and personalized decorations), a Slew de Hollywood (Anna Camp, Chris Perfetti, Jared Harris, Karen Pittman and Thunderbolt* The director Jake Schreier), three fireworks are displayed and even Maximus himself.

Crowe made a triumphant (and surprise) return to Malta to accept a film legend price to mark the 25th anniversary of Gladiator. The film, like its recent suite, was shot on the islands not far from the 18th century historic fort which welcomed prices and has long been a source of local pride.

“Do you want to know what I like in Malta?” All“Said Crowe, calling the island nation as” paradise “, which he has regularly visited over the years on vacation. To prove his point, he said that he arrived with his two sons, walked in the streets of the capital of Valletta in Sunset, acquired his favorite lasagna and admired your favorite jewelry store Mario Zampa. “I love Malta and I am rablait for your Ellevelle for all the Bide Mario Zampa.” I like to come to Malta and I am grateful for your welcome. ”

Crowe accepted his Johann Grech trophy, Malta’s film commissioner and CEO of Malta Film Studios. He praised Grech for his commitment and his passion for Malta and his “understanding of the opportunity that Malta has at the center of the Mediterranean film industry”. With this, Crowe has urged local government to further fuel a commitment to the arts and support the education of young Maltese people “who want to explore the film as a career in any way, because you really need a village to make a film”.

Crowe then told by coming to the country 26 years ago to play in the epic Gladiator. “You could say, in a fun way, I became a man in Malta,” he said. Whatever the films I had made before, nothing had the majesty, the ambition, the budget and ultimately the scope of Gladiator. I say “became a man” because it was not an easy production. I had to fight every day for the integrity of the character I played, just like the journey of the character himself in a film. Sometimes you have the chance to do something that resonates with people. »»

It still resonates. Crowe detailed a meeting he had with a man a week ago by visiting Monterosso in Cinque Terre d’Italie. “I left a restaurant at night. Going out in the street, this young man, he saw me, he recognized me and he asked me for a photo, ”recalls Crowe. “I shook my hand and he started to cry. His friends later told me that he was the head of the local beach – he has muscles on muscles and a lot of responsibilities and authority – and they had never seen him like that. ”

Crowe said that “crying became more intense” and that the man could not wipe the tears of his eyes, so he ended up hugging him. “When he met, he said,” You don’t understand. When I was 8 years old, my mother sat me in front of the television and put a video cassette of Gladiator. She told me that if you never wonder what type of man your mother expects to be what you are, it is this type of man – honor, integrity, faith, this type of man. A man made in Malta. »»

The anecdote attracted the applause and applause of the crowd, estimated at nearly 2,000 guests. Before Crowe’s remarks, Grech pronounced a long address that resonated a bit like a campaign speech. He paid special attention to the marked birthday – 2025 marks 100 years of filming in Malta – while also noting the progress that has been made under his administration. Malta has long been a magnet for Hollywood because he has hosted films such as Munich, Troy, Jurassic World Rebirth, Captain Phillips, World War Z, Murder on the Orient Express, Assassin’s Creed, by the Sea, The Da Vinci Code, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Last Breath and dozens of others.

Grech called skeptics who doubted Malta’s place as an international hub for cinema and said they came from “yes” the film industry is greater than ever, “said Grech. “The next 100 years will be better than the first. Let us never stop believing because we are Malta. We are a film. ”

The last sentence repeated the theme of the Mediterrane Film Festival this year, established on the Malta Islands in 2023 as a window for the films of the region and beyond. This year’s edition ended on Sunday after having run from June 21 to 29 and presented 55 films from more than 20 countries. The Golden Bee Awards on Sunday evening saw the official prices of the festival distributed as chosen by the juries in addition to the price of the choice of the people.

Amel Guellaty Where the wind comes from I took steam by winning two awards, including the best feature film and the best performance for the leading turn of Eya Bellagh in the drama following an Alyssa (Bellaghha) and Bellagha) and shy 23 years) who dream of escaping their reality. By discovering a competition offering a chance to flee, they participated in a road trip in southern Tunisia.

Julio Mend 8 He also won two awards, including the best scenario for his MEDEM writer-director as well as a jury choice price. The film covers 90 years and follows the eight meetings between a man, Octavio (Javier Rey), and a woman, Adela (Ana Rujas), who therefore reflected pivotal moments in the history of Spain. The pond nostrum award went to Miyazaki: spirit of naturewhich was “recognized for its lyrical exploration of nature and mind”, according to the jury, while the prize for the choice of the people was awarded to Polly Steele Four love letters.

Catherine Hardwicke, Elli Griff, Rick Carter, Charlese Antoinette, James Price, Mario Philip, Azzallo and Joseph Vassallo. A special mare nostrum jury, composed of Grainne Humphreys, Ania TrzebiatoWska and Melisa Sözen, selected from a list of films organized around climate and environmentalism themes.

Crowe was far from the only notable name honored on Sunday. The colleague winner of the Oscars, Jeremy Thomas, a veteran producer who landed the gold for the best winner of Bernardo Bertolucci The last emperor From 1988, he received a life production prize while the director of the veteran Pierre Agius location won an honor for professional success. As previously announced, Euphoria Breakout, Barbie Ferreira, tackled Malta to recover a star price rising for his screen achievements. The black tie gala also welcomed bold names like Jon Watts, Edmund Donovan, Joaquim de Almeida, Bailey Bass, Kerry Ingram and more. See below for the scenes of the interior of the Sunday celebration.