Toronto’s Catalyst Entertainment has spent $2 million on the purchase of Malta’s Mediterranean Film Studios and plans a multiphase, multimillion dollar upgrade of the facility.

Together with u.k.-based partner, the Britt Allcroft Group, Catalyst purchased 95% of the marine facility, with the Bank of Valletta owning the remaining 5%. Catalyst ceo and Maltese-Canadian Charles Falzon will act as the studio’s chairman.

Catalyst has an immediate commitment to a $5 million upgrade of mfs, with additional expansion phased in thereafter. Upgrades will include building sound studios, improving the two giant shooting tanks, and purchasing jet engine wind machines, wave machines and gimbals, which are used to move ships in water. Catalyst also plans to upgrade the support facility, including the construction of a model-building shop, purchase of a fleet of location vehicles, set construction and bolstering makeup and hair services.

Over the past two years, Catalyst had been acting as a management company for mfs with an option to purchase. Falzon says the acquisition was part of the company’s strategy to increase its international presence.

‘More and more Canadian companies are realizing that their position has to be international,’ says Falzon. ‘In addition to its being a good investment, we’re going to use Malta as our link to other countries in Europe. European broadcasters and production companies feel that it gives us a more established link to them.’

Falzon says Catalyst’s aim is to develop Malta as a whole as a location for filmmakers, and that Catalyst has been acting as an unofficial representative for the film industry in Malta, which is comprised mainly of the marine studio.

‘Our aim is to develop projects that can be shot in Malta and in Canada,’ says Falzon, adding that a coproduction treaty between the two countries is imminent.

According to Falzon, Catalyst is developing ‘two or three tv and pay-tv feature projects in the $5 million budget range’ which will use mfs. He says the facility is booked with several European commercial projects including Chanel Perfumes, currently shooting at the studio, and he hopes to have a major feature in by early next year.

Pelagic adventure White Squall, directed by Ridley Scott, and Renny Harlin’s big-budget Cutthroat Island were recent projects shot at the facility. Scott was back at mfs last week for some pickup shooting.