We are now officially halfway through Valletta’s year as European Capital of Culture and V18’s jam-packed calendar of cultural events shows no sign of slowing down.
Here’s just a few unmissable V18 events this July.
The Malta Jazz Festival 2018
16th – 21st July
Ta’ Liesse, Valletta
Featuring a star-studded programme of both world-renowned jazz musicians and local virtuosos, the Malta Jazz Festival is the international annual go-to event for all things jazz music. As well as free events throughout the city centre, visitors will be treated to on-stage collaborations, instrumental masterclasses and unique workshops.
The Malta Short Film Festival 2018 20th July – 14th September
TVM Broadcast
The only Maltese festival to be shown on a national television station, the Malta Short Film Festival 2018 will be the 10th edition of this prestigious annual international short film festival. This year also endorsed by the Valletta 2018 Foundation, in previous years the festival has won numerous awards including Best Cultural Programme in 2009 at the Malta Television Awards and the EFFE label for quality festivals.
The Malta International Music Competition
27th – 31st July
Valletta
Endorsed by the Valletta 2018 Foundation and organised by the Central Academy of Arts, the Malta International Music Competition provides an educational platform for cultural exchange between participating musicians of any nationality. The extensive programme features a series of music masterclasses specialising in a huge variety of instruments and musical genres, as well as offering participants across different categories stage training and preparation to perform music compositions. Open to beginners, professional, music lovers and audiences representing 45 countries, the competition is fast becoming the world’s premier institution for musical learning, collaboration, competing and exhibitions.
Modern Music Days – PARADE & The Velvet Gentleman
27th July
Teatru Manoel, Valletta
‘PARADE & the Velvet Gentleman’ celebrates the 100th anniversary of the iconic ballet ‘Parade’ which premiered in 1917 and featured the music of Erik Satie, scored to a one-act scenario by Jean Cocteau, with costumes and sets designed by Pablo Picasso. This one-night-only performance revisits the ballet, embellishing the new choreography by Moveo Dance Company with contemporary elements including stop motion animation by Christ Scicluna, puppetry by Charles Bezzina, projection dance sequences created by MAKA Visuals and a paper cinema by Trevor Zahra.
Lunar Eclipse at Fort St Elmo
27th July
Fort St Elmo, Valletta
In a collaboration between the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy Society of Malta, as well as Esplora and Heritage Malta, visitors can observe the rare total lunar eclipse with the naked eye from Fort St Elmo, with the partial eclipse phase starting at 20:24hrs local time and the total phase starting at 21:30hrs local time. There will also be telescopes available on site, not only to fully experience the eclipsed moon but also to spot the planet Mars which will be clearly visible on the day.
9th Edition of Kinemastik’s Little Rock People Children’s Film Festival
29th July
Garden of Rest, Floriana
The 9th edition of this family-friendly film festival is open to kids (and adults!) of all ages. Run by Kinemastik, an NGO that prides itself on carefully selected, non-patronising short film programmes for young people, at the festival audiences watch the films and are then asked to vote for their favourite, with the winner receiving the ‘Golden Dot’ Award 2018.
Heading to any of these brilliant events? Or got a review? Let us know in the comments section below!
