The race is on for the 20 singers who will be contesting for the opportunity to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Russia, in May.
Unlike previous years, the contestants at the Malta Eurosong 2009 were this time only allowed to submit one song in order to allow space for more artists to perform, PBS chairman Clare Thake Vassallo said during yesterday's launch of the festival, the final of which will be held on February 7.
The varierty of performers will also make for a more entertaining festival that promises to be a "fun evening" and will be presented by Pablo Micallef and Valerie Vella.
This is the first time PBS is overseeing the organisation and production of the acclaimed annual festival. Last June, the government decided not to reconstitute the Maltasong Board, which used to be responsible for the organisation of the Song for Europe Contest and Malta's participation in the Eurovision Song Festival.
Dr Thake Vassllo explained that PBS decided to bring the song selection process close to the public through the weekly show, Euro Showbox, that showcased singers who wanted to compete in the popular contest over the past weeks. The show, aired on Saturdays, ended last weekend when the 20 entries were chosen to compete in the final night.
They will be competing at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre in Ta' Qali. On the night, a jury of five foreign music professionals, different to the jury of Euro Showbox, will select the three finalists who will move on to a superfinal.
That same night, it will be the public, through televoting, that will rank who came first, second and third from among the three finalists. The winner will then represent Malta during the Eurovision Song Festival that will be held in Moscow between May 12 and 16. Over 4,000 people will be able to attend the final.
"PBS is not only doing its utmost to produce a quality show but has managed to make it accessible to all by maintaining a low ticket price," Dr Thake Vassallo said.
She said that, as the station aimed for a quality product, the director general of the European Broadcasting Union will be coming to Malta next week to discuss public broadcasting.
Dr Thake Vassallo encouraged people to watch the festival at the MFCC and make a fun night out of it. Once the event's costs were covered, she said, additional funds collected from the tickets would go towards preparing the winner for the contest in Moscow.
The event is sponsored by Go and Hamilton Travel. Tickets cost between €12 and €20 and can be bought from the MFCC Millennium Stand, PBS Television House, Embassy Cinema box office in Valletta or online at www.maltaeurosong.com.
For more information call ticket helpline 7964 6407.