METM26 presentation

Shaping a new future in audiovisual translation: subtitling in Italy

Valeria Cervetti, Rome, Italy

Audiovisual translation (AVT), in which matching guidelines, schedules, and strategies must be applied worldwide, has become a global frontier in translation.

Audiovisual content needs to be translated, culturally adapted, and made accessible, and streaming platforms have put the profession of audiovisual translator on the global stage.

In this presentation, I will examine subtitling as one of the main forms of AVT, focusing on its history and development in Italy. Subtitling has long been a minor practice in the Italian audiovisual industry, where dubbing has traditionally been preferred. For many years, subtitles were mainly used by film enthusiasts and DVD users. However, the arrival of streaming platforms such as Netflix, which launched in Italy in 2015, significantly changed the AVT landscape and revitalized the role of subtitling.

The lack of a strong Italian tradition in subtitling might seem to be a disadvantage, but could it actually be an opportunity for a new “Italian subtitling school” to shape the future of AVT in Italy?

I will address this question by outlining the ever-evolving nature of the industry and identifying the linguistic and technical skills required to begin a career as a subtitler. I will also highlight the key differences between translating for dubbing and for subtitling, examine how the global industry currently operates, and explore how streaming platforms are reshaping this traditional craft.

This presentation is aimed at anyone interested in subtitling and, in particular, people interested in working in the AVT sector in Italy.

About the presenter

Valeria Cervetti started working as an audiovisual translator in 1999. She specializes in subtitling. Since 2014 she has given lectures and workshops in audiovisual translation for Italian and European universities. In 2025, she established the Scuola di traduzione audiovisiva together with Matteo Amandola and STL Formazione.