Created in collaboration with VisitMalta, the mini-documentary brings Malta’s creative talent, cultural heritage and contemporary Mediterranean identity to the screen.
The mini-documentary La Dolce Vita in Malta was officially selected for and screened at the 2026 Lavazza IncluCity Festival (ICFF), one of Canada’s leading multicultural arts festivals. The selection recognized the cinematic project for its celebration of Malta’s culture, creativity and contemporary Mediterranean lifestyle.
Produced by Dolce Media Group in collaboration with VisitMalta, the film was created as a visual companion to the acclaimed coffee-table book of the same name.
“We wanted La Dolce Vita in Malta to tell a story that goes beyond the destination itself,” said Michelle Zerillo-Sosa, co- founder of Dolce Media Group and editor-in-chief of City Life Magazine. “Through the people we met and the places we experienced, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of Malta’s creative spirit, cultural heritage and contemporary identity.”
“We are pleased to welcome La Dolce Vita in Malta as part of the 2026 festival program,” said Cristiano de Florentiis, executive director and co-founder of ICFF. “ICFF celebrates stories that connect culture, identity and artistic expression, and this project beautifully captures all of those elements while sharing a unique Mediterranean story with audiences.”
Founded in 2012 as a grassroots non-profit film festival, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) has grown into a leading multicultural arts organization that celebrates the power of culture to connect communities. Through film, music, art and design, ICFF showcases Canadian and international talent while fostering inclusion, creativity and cross-cultural dialogue. Anchored by its flagship Lavazza IncluCity Festival in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, ICFF welcomes more than 250,000 attendees annually through year-round programming and immersive cultural experiences.
At the heart of the documentary are the people shaping Malta’s contemporary creative landscape. Featured throughout the film are internationally acclaimed fashion house Charles & Ron, celebrated fashion designer Luke Azzopardi, visionary paper artist James Dimech, entrepreneur and designer Dana Carmont, artist and surface-pattern designer Stephanie Borg, and Josef Bonello, Wine Ambassador for Malta and Gozo with the Malta Tourism Authority, whose perspective highlights the island’s rich winemaking heritage.
Beyond its featured personalities, La Dolce Vita in Malta also highlights Malta’s cultural heritage through the historic Teatru Manoel, led by Chief Executive Officer Edward Zammit. As Malta’s national theatre and home of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Teatru Manoel remains one of the country’s most treasured cultural landmarks.
The collaboration with VisitMalta played an integral role in shaping the project’s vision and storytelling approach, showcasing Malta through the lens of culture, gastronomy, heritage, luxury hospitality and contemporary Mediterranean lifestyle.
“Malta is my home — my culture, my heritage,” said Michelle Buttigieg, representative for the North American Malta Tourism Authority. “The designers and artists featured throughout the project reflect a Malta that is confident, design-driven and quietly luxurious. This Mediterranean archipelago is rooted in craftsmanship and authenticity, embracing a refined, fashion-forward aesthetic. This is Malta like you have not seen it before.”
As La Dolce Vita in Malta continues to reach international audiences, the project stands as a celebration of the island’s creative spirit, offering an authentic perspective on the culture, craftsmanship and stories that make Malta one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive destinations.
La Dolce Vita in Malta, the hardcover book, is available at shopdolce.ca.
