On Wednesday 23 May 2018 the Frisian capital Ljouwert/Leeuwarden will host the 12th edition of European minority language song contest Liet International, the song contest for singers and bands who sing in a European regional or minority language, already since 2002. After eleven previous editions in Friesland, Swedish Sápmi, Brittany/Breizh (France), Udine in Italy, Xixón/Gijón in Spain, Oldenburg in the northern part of Germany and Kautokeino in the north of Norway, Liet International will go back to its origin in Ljouwert/Leeuwarden.
Liet International 2018 is an XXL edition, due to the fact that Ljouwert/Leeuwarden is European Cultural Capital in 2018. This means that Liet International 2018 XXL is part of the programme of LF2018 and that we can offer more participants a stage at Liet International 2018 XXL.
Therefor the organisation calls upon bands, singers and cultural organisations throughout Europe to submit their new songs in a regional or minority language for the 12th edition of our song contest. The song contest will this year consist of 15 singers or bands who represent European regions where a minority language is being spoken and sung. Bands or artists are invited to send in newly composed music and lyrics in any of the lesser used, regional or minority languages in Europe until 1 March 2018. The organisation of Liet International 2018 XXL aims to announce the selection of the songs for Liet International 2018 XXL not later than Monday 12 March 2018.
In previous contests, we have had songs in languages such as Arbëresh, Asturian, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Cornish, Corsican, Faroese, Frisian, Friulian, Gaelic, Galician, Karelian, Low German, Manx, Meänkieli, Mordvinian, North Frisian, Occitan, Romani, Sámi, Sorbian, Udmurtian, Vepsian, Votian and Welsh. The last edition in Kautokeino was won by the young Sámi singer Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen, who won both the jury award ánd the musicians award.
The winners of the Frisian song contest Liet 2017 (10 December 2017) and Liet 2018 (13 May 2018) are automatically selected for participation in Liet International 2018 XXL. As well is the winner of the Sámi Grand Prix in Kautokeino, Norway. This means that there are 12 open places for all other minority languages of Europe. The selection process is done by a small and completely independent selection jury in the first part of March. Qualification criteria for the committee are the following: quality and uniqueness of song and music, linguistic, geographical and musical diversity, gender and age. The lyrics ánd music should be new or newly written and composed, so-called traditional songs are not accepted.
The singers/groups chosen will be invited to take part in the contest. Liet International encourages participants to seek financial support for the travels expenses from the nation they represent, or seek other possibilities. We only take care of accommodation and meals.
The panel of judges comprises of representatives from each participating region. It is also our intention to arrange a live broadcast on the radio and the internet. We also intend to register the event for television. The song contest has become one of the largest events for the promotion of minority languages and usually attracts a lot of media attention.
Please send an e-mail to questions, please use the same e-mail address.