Listening to Buġibba: Peter Sant on his new film ‘Żafżifa’

In the heart of Buġibba, where the Mediterranean sun bounces off the waves and the hum of holidaymakers fills the air, local filmmaker Peter Sant is listening. He’s listening to the stories of the people who call this tourist hub home, and he’s turned their tales into his latest film, ‘Żafżifa’. Hot Malta sat down with Peter to discuss his new movie, the spirit of Buġibba, and what it means to tell local stories.

Capturing the Spirit of Buġibba

Buġibba, a small town on Malta’s northeast coast, is no stranger to the camera. It’s been the backdrop to countless holiday snaps and travel brochures. But Peter Sant wanted to capture something different. “I wanted to show Buġibba not just as a tourist destination,” he explains, “but as a place where people live, work, and have their stories.”

‘Żafżifa’, which translates to ‘whispers’, is a collection of interconnected stories that weave together to paint a picture of Buġibba beyond the sun loungers and neon lights. “It’s about the people you don’t always see,” Peter says. “The locals who’ve been here for generations, the immigrants who’ve made it their home, the workers who keep the place running.”

Stories from the Street

Peter spent months talking to people in Buġibba, from the old-timers who remember the town before the high-rise hotels to the youngsters who’ve grown up with tourism as the norm. “I’d sit in bars, on benches, in people’s homes,” he recalls. “I’d listen to their stories, their hopes, their fears. And I’d write.”

The film is a testament to those conversations. It’s a story of love and loss, of dreams and disillusionment, of community and change. It’s a story of Buġibba, told by the people who know it best. “It’s not just my story,” Peter says. “It’s our story. It’s Buġibba’s story.”

From Script to Screen

With the stories gathered, Peter turned his attention to bringing them to life on screen. He shot ‘Żafżifa’ on location in Buġibba, using the town’s streets, bars, and homes as the backdrop to his characters’ journeys. “It was important to me that the film felt authentic,” he says. “That meant shooting where the stories happened.”

The film is a mix of drama and comedy, of tragedy and triumph. It’s a reflection of the town itself, Peter says, with its contrasts and contradictions. “Buġibba is a place of extremes,” he explains. “It’s a place of wealth and poverty, of joy and sorrow, of tradition and change. I wanted the film to reflect that.”

‘Żafżifa’ is Peter’s most personal film to date. It’s a love letter to Buġibba, a tribute to its people, and a testament to the power of storytelling. “I hope it makes people look at Buġibba – and at Malta – in a new way,” he says. “I hope it makes them listen, really listen, to the stories around them.”

You can catch ‘Żafżifa’ at the Malta Film Festival this October. For more information, visit the festival’s website.