Lucca: Translation Slam 2018 ~ Europe Comics

Update: On Sunday, Nov. 4th, Europe Comics was on hand to judge the 2018 edition of the long-running Translation Slam. For the second time, the competition featured an Italian-to-English translation category, offering participants a choice between the hard-hitting Diabolik reboot DK, illustrated by Europe Comics author Giuseppe Palumbo (Escobar), and the fresh and eye-opening graphic novel Non bisogna dare attenzioni alle bambine che urlano, from a talented duo of young Italian creators. After an anonymous judging process, the jury was unanimous in choosing Beatrice Di Meglio as the winner, for her spot-on rendering in English of Non bisogna dare attenzioni (which can be read here). Congratulations to her and to all participants! For full results, visit the site of Lucca Comics & Games (in Italian).

What is the Translation Slam? Che cos’è il Translation Slam?

Information in Italian below / dettagli in italiano qui sotto

This November, Europe Comics will be returning to Italy to participate in Lucca Comics & Games, alongside partners BAO Publishing and Tunué. The famed Lucca festival, now in its 52nd year and the largest of its kind in Europe, will be running from October 31 – November 4.

On Sunday, November 4th, to cap the 5-day festival full of signings, talks, and panels, Europe Comics will be taking part in the 7th-annual Translation Slam. Designed to promote the role of translation and translators in the comics world, the competition challenges participants to translate selected comics from English, French, and Japanese into Italian. This year’s edition, sponsored in part by BAO Publishing, will for the second time offer an Italian to English category, with the winner having the chance to have his or her work published on digital platforms worldwide by Europe Comics. The winners of all categories will be featured on the Lucca Comics & Games website.

Last year, it was aspiring translator Alex Valente who took the crown in the Italian-to-English division. His translation of Violeta – Corazón Maldito, by Virginia Tonfoni and Alessio Spataro (BAO Publishing 2017), is just out this October from Europe Comics.

The morning of the Slam will also feature a not-to-be-missed panel discussion about the growing presence of European comics beyond the continent’s borders, “Exporting Comics: How European Comics Travel the World” (11:15-12:00, Complesso San Micheletto). Participants will include Sophie Castille (International Rights Manager, Mediatoon), Italian publishers Michele Foschini (BAO) and Massimiliano Clemente (Tunue), and American translator Jamie Richards (Kobane Calling, Lion Forge).

'Violeta - Corazón Maldito,' translated by 2017 Translation Slam winner Alex Valente.

The Translation Slam is a written contest open to up-and-coming translators. Contestants will have two hours to prove their worth by translating a story excerpt or complete short story selected by the jury, with the aid of translation tools (computers, dictionaries, etc.). Update: registration for this year is now closed, with a record number of applicants. Be sure to check back in next year to be a part of the 2019 competition.

The press release in English may be downloaded here, and the full rules of the competition may be found here (in Italian). For more information, you may contact translationslam@luccacomicsandgames.com. The 2018 Translation Slam is a creation of Lucca Comics & Games, in collaboration with Symmaceo Communications, BAO Publishing, and Europe Comics.

Che cos’è il Translation Slam?

Translation Slam è un concorso di traduzione di fumetti organizzato da Lucca Comics & Games in collaborazione con Symmaceo Communications, BAO Publishing. Questa edizione vede per la seconda volta la collaborazione di Europe Comics e la continuazione di una nuova categoria in concorso.

Diventano ben quattro le combinazioni linguistiche con cui cimentarsi: oltre alle prove di traduzione dall’inglese, francese e giapponese verso l’italiano si aggiunge per il secondo anno consecutivo una prova di traduzione dall’italiano all’inglese. La prova di traduzione di fumetti si svolgerà nel pomeriggio di domenia 04 novembre, ed è rivolto ad aspiranti traduttori di fumetti preferibilmente con esperienze all’attivo nell’ambito della traduzione.

La giuria designerà un vincitore per ciascuna lingua, e in caso ritenga particolarmente meritevoli uno o più vincitori, potrà segnalarli per un incarico di traduzione affidato da BAO Publishing. Il vincitore dell’edizione 2017, Alex Valente, vedrà pubblicata quest’ottobre da Europe Comics la sua traduzione della biografia Violeta – Corazón Maldito, da Virginia Tonfoni e Alessio Spataro (BAO Publishing 2017).

I posti sono limitati e per partecipare è necessario iscriversi sul sito di Lucca Comics & Games, fino al 20 ottobre. Per maggiori informazioni consulta il regolamento (PDF da scaricare) o scrivi a: translationslam@luccacomicsandgames.com.