The Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, now in its eighth year, will be held on Thursday, 29, Friday 30 and Saturday 31 August, at the Msida Bastion Historic Garden, in Floriana, opposite the Central Public Library.

This year's participating writers are Angela Bonanno (Sicily), Tsead Bruinja (Netherlands), Maria Grech Ganado (Malta), Khaled Khalifa (Syria), Mazen Maarouf (Palestine), Nikola Madzirov (Macedonia, FYROM), Immanuel Mifsud (Malta), Denisa Mirena Piscu (Romania), Monique Roffey (UK), Karl Schembri (Malta/Gaza) and Fahredin Shehu (Kosova).

Entrance to all events is free.

There will be a food and drink stall and a bookstand. Live unconventional music will be played by Jes Psaila, Justin Galea and Michael Galea (Thursday and Friday) and Joe Debono and Manuel Pulis (Saturday). Short films from Reel Festivals will be shown on every night. Readings and interviews on stage will be in many languages, but mainly in English and Maltese.

The festival is organised by Inizjamed with the support of various partners, namely Din l-Art Helwa, the British Council, Middlesea Insurance, the European Commission Representation in Malta, Reel Festivals and the Culture Programme Success Scheme run by the Cultural Contact Point of Malta.

The garden, managed by Din l-Art Helwa, is best found by turning left off Great Siege Road and then left again after driving past the Exelsior Hotel.

For full programme and details visit www.inizjamed.org or send an email to [email protected]