The Malta Book Festival is currently taking place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.
Today’s highlights include a conference on the battle of Gallipoli and the period between the Crimean War and World War I. Participating guest speakers are Reha Keskintepe, the Turkish Ambassador, Captain Hasan Kiplapinar, Defence Attaché, Zeynep Esin Selvi, director of the Culture and Information Office of the Embassy of Turkey in Rome, Domenico Romeo, Honorary Consul General of Turkey in Sicily, Salvatore Schirmo, director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Sevin Aktas, director of the Istituto di Cultura Yunuz Emre in Rome, Giacomo Lo Bue di Lemos, lawyer at the Bar of Palermo, Silvio Aliffi, lawyer at the Bar of Syracuse, and Clara Salpietro Damiano, journalist (in Italian, 5.30pm, Temi Zammit Hall).
The focus of the evening’s activities is on an event celebrating poetess Maria Grech Ganado, last year’s winner of the National Book Prize Lifetime Achievement Award. This is a unique opportunity for members of the public to meet the poetess in person and listen to her poetry being recited by professional readers. Professor Charles Calleja will lead the discussion (8.30pm, Temi Zammit Hall).
There are several activities for children and youths, including: an author signing session with Sandra Hili Vassallo and Clare Azzopardi (5.30pm to 7.30pm, Merlin Publishers’ stand); and a two-hour family writing activity for children aged seven and over and their parents/caregivers (6.30pm, Malta Libraries stand).
■ The festival is open to the public mornings and evenings until Sunday. Weekday mornings are reserved for young readers and schoolchildren with special activities planned, including drama and adventure. There will be other child-oriented activities in the evenings as well. A shuttle service will operate from next to the Independence monument in Floriana to the Mediterranean Conference Centre all day at the weekend.
This space will highlight special events on a daily basis. For more information on the festival and to download the full programme of events, visit ktieb.org.mt.