Cap. 478 Art. 2Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

"audiovisual industry" means natural and legal persons carrying on activities in relation to the development, production, distribution and promotion of audiovisual works;

"audiovisual production" means the development and production of an audiovisual work;

"audiovisual work" means a work that consists of a series of related images which impart the impression of motion, with or without accompanying sounds, susceptible of being made visible and, where accompanied by sounds, susceptible of being made audible;

the "Commissioner" means the Film Commissioner appointed under article 5(1) and includes any officer or employee of the Commissioner authorised by him in that behalf; the "Commission" means the Malta Film Commission established by article 3; "co-producer" means a cinematographic production company or producer bound by a co-production contract; "co-production contract" means a co-production agreement between a co-producer established in Malta and one or more co-producers established abroad in accordance with any bilateral, multilateral or international treaty, convention or agreement to which Malta is a party, but shall not include a co-production agreement between two or more co-producers established in Malta; "film" includes a photographic film or a recording on magnetic tape or on any other material or medium, digital or otherwise, from which a series of images, with or without associated sounds, may be produced and which is intended for international distribution and exhibition;

"film servicing industry" means all natural and legal persons whose principal purpose of business is to provide facilities and, or equipment to the audiovisual industry or such other purpose as may be prescribed by the Minister;

"financial year" means any period of twelve months ending on the 31 December of each year or such other date as may be st determined by the Minister: Provided that the first financial year of the Commissioner shall commence on the coming into force of this Act and shall end on the 31 day of December of the next following year; st "Malta" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 124 of the Constitution; "the Minister" means the Minister responsible for the film industry or any other Minister designated by the Prime Minister by notice in the Gazette;

"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under the provisions of this Act;

"public officer", in relation to Part III of this Act, has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 124 of the Constitution.