Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, selecting their entry through the national selection Malta Eurosong 2011, organised by Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS).

The next Maltese selection was divided intro three phases. The first phase commenced immediately after the submission deadline. In the initial phase all songs submitted were judged by a panel of experts appointed by the national broadcaster. The first judging phase took place behind closed doors and the jury listened to the songs on CD. 74 songs made it through phase one and performed in front a jury in phase two. In this phase all artists performed the songs live behind closed doors.

Twenty-four songs made it through to the semi-final on 11 February 2011. The 24th finalist would be the winner of last year’s L-Isfida. Should the latter not participate the next song in line from phase two, eligible to participate, would qualify. Singers having submitted multiple interpretations would only be allowed to compete with two songs in the final phases. The 24 songs were televised on a show broadcast by PBS. The Comperes were Keith Demicoli and Valerie Vella. As in previous years, Radio Malta also transmitted live, both the semi-final and the final with a commentary by the seasoned Radio Malta broadcaster Tony Micallef. The jury, which was led by Riccardo Cocciante, had a weight of 66% while the public vote had the remaining 33%.

Sixteen songs qualified to the final to take place on 12 February. In the final phase the winning song was chosen through 66% expert jury and 33% public vote. Meanwhile the new regulations say that the winner of the past three Maltese selections is not allowed to compete in the Malta Eurovision Festival 2011. This means that neither Morena, Chiara Siracusa nor Thea Garrett could submit songs for the next selection. Maltese composers and authors could submit up to four songs but foreign writers could compete with two entries.

On 26 November, PBS announced that they received 141 entries for the Malta Eurovision festival 2011.

On 8 January, PBS announced the 24 songs for the national selection. The list included former Malta Eurovision representatives Fabrizio Faniello, who represented Malta in 2001 and 2006, and Sophie Debattista, who represented Malta in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The list also included former MSE contestants; Jessica Muscat, Wayne Micallef, Richard Edwards, Eleanor Cassar, Raquela, Jamie Tonna, Baklava, Claudia Faniello, Ally, Glen Vella, Kurt Calleja, Klinsmann Coleiro, J. Anvil, Petra Zammit and Rosman Pace. Domenique Azzopardi has also previously entered Junior Malta Song for Europe, the preselection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

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Wikipedia