Maurice Micallef (Director)
Throughout his filming career, Maurice managed to win 1339 awards in international film and video festivals on four continents. Between 1954 and 1959 he worked at Saint Luke’s Hospital as a radiographer. Later, following a career move, Maurice worked at the bacteriological laboratory. In 1964, he was a technical officer at the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology at Msida.
For his continuous drive in promoting Maltese cultural heritage through his documentaries, Maurice is appointed as a Member of the National Order of Merit in 2014.
Documentaries by CMM Productions
THE PHOENICIANS
The critically-acclaimed winning documentary ‘The Phoenicians’ has been awarded 108 international awards in film festivals held in Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Canada, Dubai, France, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Slovenia and USA. And amongst these awards, the Grand Jury Prize in the IMDB rated New York International Film and Video Festival in 2005.
This documentary brings to life the Phoenician world. It brings forward who were the Phoenicians, what were they famous for, and what was their effect on the Maltese islands.
THE TAL QADI STONE
The ‘Tal Qadi stone’ documentary investigates the interpretation of this unique fan-shaped stone. This stone found in the limits of Burmarrad near the Tal Qadi temple is unique. This documentary is a winner of 20 international awards in film and video festivals held in Canada and USA. And amongst which the Jury Award in the Mountain Film Festival in 2013 held in the USA.
HAL FAR AIRFIELD
The documentary ‘Hal Far Airfield’ was awarded Best of Show in the Best Shorts Competition held in the USA in 2014. This documentary traces the history of Hal Far Airfield. According to the competition’s website, the film has impeccable research. It includes extensive original wartime footage combined with re-enactments of Maltese Army Regiments and the British Royal Air Force.
Best short awardees won Oscars and Emmys in this festival. In this same competition in 2013, the Best of Show animated film Mr Hublot won an Oscar for an animated short film.
THE UNSOLVED MYSTERY
The documentary ‘The Unsolved Mystery’ about the Maltese cart-ruts is a winner of 32 international Awards in various film and video festivals. In the IMDb rated Impact Docs Awards Festival 2017, the documentary won history, research, documentary feature and direction awards. The Unsolved Mystery was awarded the Best Non Feature Film Award in the 2021 Lakecity International Film Festival held in India.
KANNIZZATI FISHING
Kannizzati Fishing won 41 international awards in various film and video festivals, amongst which include IMDb rated competitions in Hollywood. Indeed, an unforgettable experience during filming as the production team ventured into the open sea to film this fishing tradition.
Kannizzati Fishing
Chris Micallef
Chris Micallef started his filming career way back in 1977 at the age of nine in one of his father’s productions, “The Boy and the Red Ball”. This film won him the best actor award.
The best acting performance was again won by Chris in ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ in 1980.
CHRIS MICALLEF AS PRODUCER
In 1985, Chris started producing his own productions. “Life Line for a City”, was his first documentary about the aqueducts in Malta. His productions have won awards in Malta, and in several other countries. This includes the prestigious Ten Best awards in Australia, England and the United States of America.
The PSA VMPD titles were awarded to Chris in competitions held in Mississippi, California and in Chicago, USA.
THE PHOENICIANS
‘The Phoenicians’ with the Grand Jury Prize-Best Documentary Feature and Best Director awards in the New York Film & Video Festival. Held in Las Vegas in 2005 and New York in 2006, this feature documentary film was shown in one of the Las Vegas theatres.
During the International Film and Video Festival held in Poland in 2007, ‘The Phoenicians’ was nominated for Best European Documentary.
SECRETS OF THE STONE AGE
Parts from the documentary ‘Secrets of the Stone Age’ were broadcast in Japan on TBS Vision and on Channel 4 in the UK.
KANNIZZATI FISHING
Kannizzati Fishing won 41 international awards in various film and video festivals, amongst which include IMDb rated competitions in Hollywood. Indeed, an unforgettable experience during filming as the production team ventured into the open sea to film this fishing tradition.
Kannizzati Fishing
THE NORMANS
The documentary ‘The Normans’ is a winner of 112 international Awards in various film and video festivals held in Bhutan, Chile, England, India, Italy, Montenegro, Nepal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Venezuela and the United States of America. The Best Picture award was given to ‘The Normans’ in the FilmCon Awards in 2020 held in the USA besides Best Documentary Feature, Best Trailer and Best Television Script.
Best Shorts Competition held in the USA
THE GIANT DEEP REDS
The sea, home to a treasure trove of species from the microscopic to the gargantuan has one particular gem-the bluefin tuna. It is a multibillion-euro industry and an economic lifeline for several nations. The documentary producers take a look at this predator of the sea, the most valuable commodity, the third most harvested fish of the seas, the bluefin tuna.
Winner of 128 international awards in film festivals held in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Philippines, Singapore. Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America.
THE ROMANS
Rome, from a humble beginning, grew into one of the greatest empires ever known, lasting almost a thousand years. At its height it stretched from London to Baghdad, projecting its power with its professional army and creating a model for Western civilization. It became inevitable that one day Malta would fall to the Romans. In order to figure out who were the Romans, it is imperative to understand from where all this started.
Winner of 147 international awards in film festivals held in Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
SECRETS OF THE ANUNNAKI
Did the Anunnaki descend from the heavens to engineer the first human race?
This documentary explores the real origin and purpose of the shining ones, the Anunnaki.
Winner of 145 international awards in film festivals held in Cambodia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda and the United States of America.
Awards were achieved for best documentary, cinematography, direction, editing, producer, educational film, sound design, Vfx and trailer.
Voted as Best International Short Film at the:
Uruvatti International Film Festival
Winter Sun International Film Festival
Port Blair International Film Festival
Online Film Festival
Medusa Film Festival
Star Hollywood Awards
Dubai Indie Film Festival
Indo Malaysia Film Festival
Kuala Lumpur Indie Film Festival
Cambodia Independent Film Festival
Vietnam Independent Film Festival
THE FIVE LONGEST DAYS
In 1942, an epic naval operation was mounted to relieve Malta from the onslaught of attacks by the Axis forces. Codenamed ‘Pedestal’, the men who took part in this operation went through hell. Some lived to tell the story.
Winner of 37 international awards in film festivals held in India, Philippines, South Korea, and the United States of America.
Awards were achieved for direction, editing, producer, documentary, sound design, and production.
Voted as Best International Short Film at the:
Thirumyam International Film Festival
Grass Root International Film Festival
HORTEN-Ho229
In 1943, the all-wing and jet-propelled Horten HO 229 promised spectacular performance. The German Air Force Luftwaffe chief, Herman Goring, allocated half-a-million Reichsmarks to brothers Reimer and Walter Horten to build and fly several prototypes. This documentary brings to light this historical set-piece during the war period.
Winner of 13 international awards in film festivals held in India, Slovakia, Sri Lanka and Spain.
INSURRECTION
Malta’s long and arduous process leading to statehood could only have occurred if it no longer formed part of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and subsequently Italy. The question is how Malta found itself in this conundrum if Lampedusa forms part of the province of Agrigento in Sicily. This documentary investigates the French occupation of Malta between 1798 till 1800.
Winner of 106 international awards in film festivals held in Bhutan, Cambodia, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, South Korea, India, Ukraine and USA.
OOPARTS
An out-of-place artefact or OOPART is an artefact of historical, archaeological, or paleontological interest found in an unusual context, which challenges conventional historical chronology by its presence in that context. Sometimes a perfectly logical explanation is sustained, at other times the whole thing is a hoax or a misunderstanding. In other cases, we still do not understand what happened. This documentary surfaces ten of such intriguing OOPARTS.
Winner of 12 international awards in film festivals held in the Philippines and Nepal.
Voted as Best International Short Film at the:
Little Buddha Indie Film Festival
INFRACTION
Britain’s sovereignty over the Maltese Islands was based on the free and spontaneous gift made by the representative Maltese leaders. Malta entered the British Empire by way of cession and not by conquest. Winner of 105 international awards in film festivals held in Bahrain, Bulgaria, India, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the USA.
TIME ODYSSEY
Time is the only unit of measure. Time gives proof of the existence of matter. Without time we do not exist. Whoever controls time controls the universe. Winner of 19 international film awards in India, Malaysia and Nepal. Awarded the Best International Short Film award in the Navy International Film Festival held in Malaysia and Runner-Up Best International Short Film in the Blue Diamond Film Festival held in Nepal. Awarded Best Europe Short Fim at the Rohip International Film Festival held in India.
THE NINEVEH CONSTANT
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS mankind has been greatly impressed by the majestic regularity of the stars moving in the skies. Many tried in vain to find the great constant of the solar system and finally gave up. But this magic number finally appeared on an old clay tablet from Nineveh. Winner of 126 international film awards in Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cuba, England, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Mauritius, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America. Winner of Best European Film at the Top Film Awards and the Best European Short Film at the Bangladesh Independent Film Festival.
UFO
Throughout human history, mankind encountered and recorded UFO incidents. Are UFOs coming from planets in our galaxy or from elsewhere? What is so special about Earth in the vastness of the universe? Winner of 44 international awards in Belgium, India, Macedonia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Nigeria, Spain and USA.
THE RADIANCE OF ETERNITY
Somewhere in a surreal universe is a world of winged horses,
giraffes and elephants, golden dragons and birds, unicorns, fairies,
flaming and smoky lions, gigantic butterflies, radial cows, purple flying jellyfish, and green zebras, all overlooked by Medusa and the mythical god Zeus. It is a universe where all faiths meet in a colorful harmony. Winner of 10 international awards in Bahrain, Greece (Distinction Award in Athens Animfest), Spain and the United States of America.
FALLOUT
The horror of nuclear explosions is unparalleled, evoking a nightmarish blend of immediate devastation and enduring consequences. The psychological trauma lingers indefinitely, haunting communities with the spectre of annihilation and leaving scars that endure for generations. This is Xanor’s story. Winner of Best European film at the Incheon International Film Festival (South Korea).
DIE GLOCKE
In the shadowed corridors of World War II, amidst the chaos and desperation of Nazi Germany, whispers of a secret weapon echoed through the halls of power. Winner of Best Animated Short Film at the Kolumban International Film Festival (India) and Best Story in the Black & White Film Festival (Canada).
CMM PRODUCTIONS
CMM Productions have to date won 1339 awards in filmmaking. Chris and Maurice are the first Maltese filmmakers who have won in four different categories/genres in international film and video competitions. This includes fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental genres.
Dr Ing. Chris Micallef produces documentaries for One Group. Chris is an engineer by profession. Today, Chris is the Department Manager (People Management) of Jobsplus. He studied engineering at the University of Malta and graduated in 1992. In 2000 he obtained his Masters degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College and in 2009 obtained his doctorate degree in social sciences from the University of Leicester. He became the first Maltese to graduate with a doctorate degree in social sciences from the University of Leicester.
RESEARCH
His research for the documentary on the Mnajdra temples has led towards the publication of two papers in prestigious scientific journals. One is on his discovery of the Mnajdra lower temple’s main axis aligned towards the phases of the moon and the possible use of the megalithic yard as a possible measurement that the ancients used to construct the temple. And the other is the enigmatic interpretation of the Tal Qadi stone, which may represent a moon calendar.
Professor Frank Ventura in his book ‘L-astronomija f’Malta’ and well known international author Graham Hancock mentions Chris’s theory on Mnajdra in his bestseller ‘UnderWorld’. Peter Marshall mentions the Tal Qadi stone proposal by Chris Micallef in his book, ‘Europe’s Lost Civilization’.
Dr Ing. Chris Micallef’s script on the unique Maltese cart-ruts for the documentary ‘The Unsolved Mystery’, was awarded the Award of Excellence in Research in the IMDb rated Impact Docs Awards Festival 2017, besides other awards for history, documentary feature and direction. This festival featured Robert De Niro, Matt Damon, Ashton Kutcher, Walter Cronkite and Kevin Costner as well as Academy Award winner Louie Psihoyos and Emmy Award winners Peter Middleton and James Spinnet from the UK amongst the protagonists as winners.
Filming for Tal Qadi temple documentary
Dr Ing. Chris Micallef M.Q.R. was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika during the 2016 Gieh ir-Repubblika for his scientific research on Maltese megalithic temples.776131
