For the first time ever, Super 1 Television is organising an international festival called Malta International TV Song Festival 2006. Composers, authors and singers over the age of 16 who have a Maltese citizenship are all invited to participate.

The aim of the festival is to promote our local talent. As a matter of fact, local songs will be included in foreign CDs which will then be played overseas. It is interesting to note that the year 2006 was the 25th year since the establishment of the first international Maltese song festival. Two of the people who were on the board of that committee are today on the Board of the Malta International TV Song Festival 2006. These are Norman Hamilton, who is the Chairperson of the Board, and Robert Cefai, who is the Secretary. The rest of the Board is made up of Josette Grech, Ruth Frendo, Ray Azzopardi and Pierre Cachia.

The best 54 songs will compete during a special series of television programmes which will be aired on Super 1 Television in October. Out of these, the best 14 songs will take part in the finals which will take place on 8 and 9 December.

The winners will not only win a cash prize, but the singers who place first, second and third, will be sent to participate in international festivals.

Another important part of the festival is that the Board will be inviting 14 foreign singers to take part in this festival.

All the local composers who have managed to make it to the first phase (that is the 54 songs) will be asked by the Board to submit some of their compositions from their repertoire so that these can be sent to foreign singers. The foreign singers will then make new arrangements with the option of translating the lyrics into their language.

The closing date is 25 August. For further information you can phone on 21387185 or else send an email on [email protected]