Private Project

Morning Star

“Morning Star” takes you on a riveting ride through history. Set against the backdrop of 1940s Malta, this true story weaves together the magnetic tale of Christina, a British entertainer, and the fearless RAF pilot, Warby, whose love story unfolds amidst the impending darkness of World War II. Starring Larissa Bonaci and Ben Lamb (The Gilded Age) and featuring rarely glimpsed historical archive footage, elegant design and an original musical score, "Morning Star" promises an unforgettable blend of romance and wartime suspense.

Morning Star is a UK - Malta co-production.

Shorter Synopsis:

Set in 1940s Malta, 'Morning Star' tells the magnetic true story of Christina, a British entertainer, and the fearless RAF pilot, Warby, whose love story unfolds amidst the impending darkness of World War Two.

  • Zara Balfour
    Director
    Children of the Snow Land
  • Zara Balfour
    Writer
    Children of the Snow Land
  • Larissa Bonaci
    Writer
  • Enrico Tessarin
    Writer
    The Habit of Beauty
  • Rachel Kaden
    Writer
  • Enrico Tessarin
    Producer
    The Habit of Beauty
  • Winnie Wong
    Producer
  • Larissa Bonaci
    Producer
  • Zara Balfour
    Producer
    Children of the Snow Land
  • Larissa Bonaci
    Key Cast
    "Christina"
  • Ben Lamb
    Key Cast
    "Warby"
  • Nanette Brimmer
    Key Cast
    "Older Christina"
  • Narcy Calamatta
    Key Cast
    "Greengrocer"
  • Edward Mercieca
    Key Cast
    "Mr Fiteni"
  • Stephen Oliver
    Key Cast
    "Air Marshall"
  • Paul Mackay
    Director of Photography
  • Paul Zabihi
    Production Designer
  • Francis Ghersci
    Editor
  • Peter Michaels
    Original Songs & Score Composer
  • Didi Mizzi
    Costume Designer
  • Lara Licari
    Makeup & Hair Designer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    romance, drama, love story, true story, wartime
  • Runtime:
    28 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 17, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Malta
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Dragon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Stroud Film Festival
    Stroud
    United Kingdom
    February 17, 2024
    UK Premiere
    Official Selection
  • London Director Awards
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 17, 2024
    Best Drama Director Award
  • Love Story Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 18, 2024
    Best Historic Short Film Award
  • Pápa International Historical Film Festival
    Pápa
    Hungary
    April 26, 2024
    Audience Award & Best Actress Award
  • Thru the Lens Film Festival
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    May 11, 2024
    Nominated for Best Women's Voice
  • Mediterrane Film Festival
    Valletta
    Malta
    June 23, 2024
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • Dawn Sharpless
    Sales Agent
    Country: United Kingdom
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Zara Balfour

Zara Balfour is a BIFA award-winning director, writer and producer, who also runs a non-profit organisation. She has filmed in over 20 countries, often documenting community projects in developing countries. Zara began her career as an actress before moving behind the camera. She worked with Sophie Fiennes on a programme for BBC Storyville, going on to produce and/or direct short films, TV commercials and documentary content. Zara then moved into longer format storytelling; directing documentaries and writing. Her first feature documentary ‘Children of the Snow Land’ won the BIFA Raindance Discovery Award 2019, a Grierson Award shortlist, two Screen Awards nominations, One World Media Awards 2020 longlist, 20 festival awards, 60 UK cinema screenings, TV broadcasts including Arte, NHK, UR and VOD on Curzon Home Cinema. Her earlier short films as producer won awards at Berlin Film Festival, London Film Festival, European Film Awards, Creative Review and Cannes Lions. Most recently, Zara directed ‘Morning Star’, a wartime love story set in Malta, which is Zara’s most ambitious drama directing role to date. Zara has been featured on BBC Woman’s Hour, BBC World, Talk Radio, she is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and she has lectured on cinema and human rights advocacy. Zara’s non-profit organisation, Snowland Journeys CIC, supports Himalayan communities in Nepal, enabling young people from remote mountain villages to achieve an education whilst maintaining their family connection.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Our ambitious period drama - inspired by a true story - was filmed in Malta, featuring a British and Maltese cast, an aeroplane, classic cars, 1940s costumes, original songs and orchestral music score, for a budget of just £40,000, which was about 15% of what was needed to achieve this type of project. This expansive period drama film is a triumph of teamwork with many people joining our mission to bring this important wartime true story to life and I am delighted with how much we achieved with so little.

Morning Star is a visual feast featuring high production values in design, costume, makeup, music and song. Our innovative cinematography features Canon Cine Prime lenses with denier tights over the lens to re-create 1940s style visuals.

This film is a love story at its heart, but not just one love story. There are two closely intertwined love stories upon which we focus and intertwine: first, the love story between our two main characters, Christina (Larissa Bonaci) and Warby (Ben Lamb, The Gilded Age), and secondly, their love story with Malta.

When we enter the film, we see two young people in the prime of their lives, meeting and falling in love. They’re both British and the imminent war draws them, separately, to Malta: Christina to entertain the troops and Warby to fly as a reconnaissance pilot with the RAF.

As a filmmaker, I am attracted to stories that encourage people to see a world beyond themselves and explore different ways of life and the human condition. In this film, we learn about the British and Maltese of the 1940s and look at the effect war has on relationships. In a time when so much of Europe is becoming fragmented, it is important that we remember how war does tear people apart. I was struck by the recent D-Day celebrations and the war veterans who spoke about the importance of peace and working together.

This story is relevant not just as a romantic love story, an uplifting musical, or a document of Malta at war, but also in a meaningful wider context looking at what war brings to everyday life, to joy and to couples in love.