• With nearly a decade in the film industry, Maria Rosa Thornhill specialises in narrative-driven production design, bringing a strong practical foundation from her early work in the art department. She approaches every project story-first, with a clear vision and a collaborative mindset.

  • Maria Rosa Thornhill is a member of the European Film Academy and the Production Designers’ Collective, and an alumna of NFTS Scotland and The Art Department Masterclass.

  • Maria Rosa Thornhill is a production designer and art director available in Malta, Europe and the UK.

    Holding dual Maltese and UK citizenship, Maria Rosa can work seamlessly across these areas.

  • The production design diary is an upcoming series showing the realities of leading the art department in indie productions and what goes into designing a multitude of worlds and sets. 

  • McDonald’s, APS Bank, Kinnie, MAKA, GO, Melita, Take//Two, Roughcut, Lampa Stampa, JB Stores & Arkadia

  • “Since the start, Maria Rosa's flair for beauty and the aesthetic dimension was a cut above the rest. One can see this in the huge shift in the quality of our projects since she joined the team. She brought something that we were missing. She added layers and layers of story through her visual storytelling, while making every project unique and particular in its own right. Maria Rosa not only brings ideas to the table, but will work wholeheartedly to make these ideas come to life; making big ideas happen with little funds.”

    -Abigail Mallia, Director/Producer

  • “Maria has an exceptional ability to transform a script into rich, meaningful set designs that elevate the storytelling. She is an artist at heart deeply dedicated, thoughtful, and committed to her craft. I highly recommend her work and I hope to collaborate with Maria Rosa again in the future.”

    - Fabrizio Fenech, Director/Producer

  • “Maria Rosa is a brilliant collaborator and an invaluable part of any production team. She truly understands the brief and finds a way to make it happen - nothing ever feels impossible with her. Her calm, positive energy keeps spirits high on set, and her proactive mindset means problems are often solved before they even reach production. Knowing Maria Rosa is on the team gives me total confidence that the creative director’s vision will be delivered in perfect alignment with the client brief and within budget.”

    - Maria Vella, Head of Production

  • “Maria Rosa is a multi-talented artist who has always impressed me with how much she would have on her shoulders in the art department, or production design altogether. The sheer amount of research, sourcing and execution she is capable of handling without losing an ounce of her creativity nor compromising her vision is outstanding. To her, if this is nearly impossible, then it isn’t impossible and she will give her everything to make it work. The result always ends up looking like there was time, money and a team, when often there was neither."

    - Max Durand, Director/AD

  • “Maria Rosa’s talent shines through the depth and texture she adds to every frame. She has an amazing eye for creating a cohesive world where everything feels like it belongs, and the characters truly live in the space. Her skills are wide-ranging, but what really stands out is her can-do attitude. It lifts the whole team, builds confidence, and makes her such a pleasure to work with on set.”

    -Matthew James Ellul, Creative Director

  • “I worked with Maria Rosa on an outdoor musical that travelled weekly to multiple venues. She worked excellently with the project’s various restrictions and designed a set that was easily transportable, highly functional, while also contributing greatly to the show’s aesthetic. She was also willing and able to suggest practical solutions to the project’s various challenges with the end result being sleek and visually striking. I’d be happy to work with her again.”

    -Malcolm Galea, Director/Producer

  • “Since the start, Maria Rosa's flair for beauty and the aesthetic dimension was a cut above the rest. One can see this in the huge shift in the quality of our projects since she joined the team. She brought something that we were missing. She added layers and layers of story through her visual storytelling, while making every project unique and particular in its own right. Maria Rosa not only brings ideas to the table, but will work wholeheartedly to make these ideas come to life; making big ideas happen with little funds.”

    -Abigail Mallia, Director/Producer

  • “Maria has an exceptional ability to transform a script into rich, meaningful set designs that elevate the storytelling. She is an artist at heart deeply dedicated, thoughtful, and committed to her craft. I highly recommend her work and I hope to collaborate with Maria Rosa again in the future.”

    - Fabrizio Fenech, Director/Producer

  • “Maria Rosa is a brilliant collaborator and an invaluable part of any production team. She truly understands the brief and finds a way to make it happen - nothing ever feels impossible with her. Her calm, positive energy keeps spirits high on set, and her proactive mindset means problems are often solved before they even reach production. Knowing Maria Rosa is on the team gives me total confidence that the creative director’s vision will be delivered in perfect alignment with the client brief and within budget.”

    - Maria Vella, Head of Production

  • “Maria Rosa is a multi-talented artist who has always impressed me with how much she would have on her shoulders in the art department, or production design altogether. The sheer amount of research, sourcing and execution she is capable of handling without losing an ounce of her creativity nor compromising her vision is outstanding. To her, if this is nearly impossible, then it isn’t impossible and she will give her everything to make it work. The result always ends up looking like there was time, money and a team, when often there was neither."

    - Max Durand, Director/AD

  • “Maria Rosa’s talent shines through the depth and texture she adds to every frame. She has an amazing eye for creating a cohesive world where everything feels like it belongs, and the characters truly live in the space. Her skills are wide-ranging, but what really stands out is her can-do attitude. It lifts the whole team, builds confidence, and makes her such a pleasure to work with on set.”

    -Matthew James Ellul, Creative Director

  • “I worked with Maria Rosa on an outdoor musical that travelled weekly to multiple venues. She worked excellently with the project’s various restrictions and designed a set that was easily transportable, highly functional, while also contributing greatly to the show’s aesthetic. She was also willing and able to suggest practical solutions to the project’s various challenges with the end result being sleek and visually striking. I’d be happy to work with her again.”

    -Malcolm Galea, Director/Producer