WATCH: From Malta to the World – A Documentary Series on Translated Maltese Literature 

Launched on social media on the occasion of World Book Day 2026 and running from late April to mid-May, From Malta to the World is a four-episode documentary series on translated Maltese literature, created by the National Book Council (NBC) in collaboration with Side Street Malta. 

Celebrating local authors whose work has travelled beyond our shores – often with the help of the NBC’s Translation and Export Grant – while also shedding light on the art of translation, the series guides viewers through some of the crucial, and often overlooked, stages of the process of literary export. 

Featuring the participation of authors Immanuel Mifsud, Clare Azzopardi and Ryan Falzon; author and publisher Loranne Vella; translators Virginia Monteforte and Joe Gatt and editor and translator Kat Storace, each episode of the series addressed a different angle of the process. From authors charting the way translation became a more attainable ambition in recent years to translators talking shop about the details of their craft, the series paints a hopeful 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 on its support structures for literary export. From its ongoing presence at prominent international book fairs and through the Foreign Rights Guide, the NBC will also focus on crucial capacity building exercises, such as the recently unveiled course on literary editing, as well as a similar upcoming initiative aimed at authors. 

The results of these initiatives speak for themselves. Over the past few years, the NBC’s Translation and Export Grant has seen unprecedented variety in applications from international publishers keen to feature Maltese literature on their rosters. And this year, the Malta Book Fund – which closed for applications on 19 May – has received a record number of submissions, with 24 applications submitted in the Translation Export Grant category alone, with the crucial Pitch Grant also attracting a substantially larger percentage of submissions when compared to the previous year. 

“As correctly highlighted by Katryna Storace in one of the episodes of From Malta to the World, the pitch grant remains a crucial stepping stone for local authors keen to explore the possibilities of getting their work translated,” NBC Executive Chairperson Mark Camilleri said. 

“And in many ways, that grant is a ‘microcosm’ of our approach to responsible and results-oriented internationalisation efforts: it encourages authors to think strategically and in line with industry realities – by aiming to translate a more digestible sample ahead of the translation of a complete manuscript, authors can more efficiently produce a document that will help them pave the way towards crucial conversations with international gatekeepers. 

“Such a trajectory perfectly illustrates the NBC’s approach. We aim to build a sustainable strategy based on solid research, a well-cultivated presence in international fora, and local stakeholders who are given the opportunity to sharpen their skills and gain full awareness of their rights,” Camilleri added. 

Watch all episodes of From Malta to the World below

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4