Merman’s Hannah Berry George Celebrates the Best Fiction in Translation with International Booker Prize Films

Merman & Mermade are proud to partner for another year with The International Booker Prize, for a collection of short films directed this time by Hannah Berry George. The Booker Prize, the world’s most significant award for a single work of fiction, is also teaming up with the global film distributor and streaming service MUBI, award-winning bookseller Foyles and London’s The Garden Cinema in a new collaboration.

Alongside Mermade, digital sister company of Merman, MUBI has matched six international films to this year’s shortlisted books, culminating in a special screening featuring a Q&A with the winners on May 26. The films celebrate the best fiction in translation, helping bring fresh voices and experiences from other cultures to the widest possible audience and feature a collection of named figures and artists such as Toby Stephens, Aisling Bea, Jessica Brown Findlay, Adjoa Andoh among others. 

Hannah Berry George says; “The idea for this was simply: if these books had illustrations, what would they look like if we lifted them off the page? It’s adult jackanory, mixed with vivid imagination and a touch of fashion aesthetic. And, thanks to our flawless cast and amazing crew, we have six very individual films that I hope perfectly capture the worlds each author wrote into creation.”

Paul Davies, Head of Editorial at the Booker Prize Foundation, says: "We wanted Hannah and Mermade to create a set of colourful and vibrant films that would not only bring the books to life and help us reach an audience that might not ordinarily engage with the prize, but also reflect the fact that the readership for translated fiction is significantly younger than for fiction generally. We wanted the films to have just as much impact on a phone screen as on a giant screen at the International Booker Prize winner ceremony, and they deliver on both counts, in spades."  

The films - which have so far generated over 1.3 million views  - have been shared on the Booker Prize's various social channels (@TheBookerPrizes), the Booker Prizes website and the Booker Prizes YouTube channel.