Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545039
11 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 22 MAY 2026 CULTURE FROM Malta to the World is a four-episode docuseries about translated Maltese literature that was launched on social media on the occasion of World Book Day 2026, and aired between late April and mid-May. The docuse- ries was created by the National Book Council (NBC) in collabo- ration with Side Street Malta. The series, which celebrates the works of local authors who have travelled abroad – of- ten with the help of the NBC Translation and Export Grants – while shedding light on the art of translation, guides the audience through some of the crucial and often overlooked stages of the literary export process. Each episode of the series, which featured authors Imma- nuel Mifsud, Clare Azzopardi and Ryan Falzon; author and publisher Loranne Vella; trans- lators Virginia Monteforte and Joe Gatt, and editor and trans- lator Kat Storace, addressed a different angle of the process. Among these angles, the au- thors discussed how transla- tion has become a more viable ambition in recent years, and the translators explained some details about their craft, while the series painted a positive picture of the future of Maltese literature abroad. With this in mind, and guided by the Strategic Vision 2025- 2030, the NBC will continue to expand its support for liter- ary export. From its continued presence at prominent interna- tional book fairs and through the Foreign Rights Guide, the NBC will also focus on crucial training to strengthen skills, such as the recently announced course on literary editing, as well as a similar future initia- tive aimed at authors. The results of these initiatives speak for themselves. Over the past few years, the NBC Trans- lation and Export Grants have seen an unprecedented variety of applications from interna- tional publishers keen to add Maltese literature to their cat- alogue. And this year, the Mal- ta Book Fund – whose call for applications closed on 19 May – received a record number of submissions, with 24 applica- tions for the Translation and Export of Books by Maltese Authors strand alone, while the Pitch Grant for Translation of an Extract from a Book also attracted a substantially high- er percentage of submissions compared to last year. NBC Executive Chairperson Mark Camilleri said, "As Katry- na Storace rightly said in one of the episodes of Minn Malta għad-Dinja, the grant for the translation of an excerpt from a book as a pitch remains a cru- cial step for local authors who are eager to explore the pos- sibilities of having their work translated." "And in many ways, that grant is a 'microcosm' of our approach to responsible, re- sults-driven internalization efforts: the grant encourages authors to think strategically and in line with industry real- ities. By aiming to translate a more digestible sample before translating a full manuscript, authors can more efficiently produce a document that helps them pave the way for crucial conversations with key inter- national figures." "Such a trajectory perfectly reflects the NBC's approach. We aim to build a sustaina- ble strategy based on strong research, a well-cultivated presence in international en- vironments, and local partners who are given the chance to improve their skills and gain full knowledge of their rights," added Camilleri. From Malta to the World: A docuseries on translated Maltese literature Episode 1 of the series