The Film and Video Poetry Society Presents:
The 2026 Film and Video Poetry Symposium

The Symposium screens a wide range of films developed through the lens of poetry. We also feature a curated media and video art gallery, along with panels, speakers, workshops, and public dialogues.

The Symposium calls all digital and film works that hybridize poetry, including, but not limited to videopoetry, poetry video, Cin(E)-Poetry, filmpoems, choreopoems, poetry films, motion poems, and poetronica.

Please submit documentary, animation, and performance art that explores or evokes poetry.

New Technologies: artificial intelligence, virtual reality & experimental video games are called to submit. Media installations and video art (single, multi-channeled, and/or sculptural) that explore aspects of poetry or text art are regularly selected for our gallery.

We encourage experimental filmmakers to submit work that operates within or outside of the realm of poetry. Artists’ moving image, avant-garde, and slow cinema filmmakers are encouraged to do the same. The Symposium highlights essay film, epistolary film, and oratorical works this way as well.

THE SYMPOSIUM EXPERIENCE

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium is a 28-day annual event that is rooted in Los Angeles, CA.

Venues range from micro-cinema to architecturally significant facilities. We host a video art gallery for the duration of the event and occasionally present satellite programming internationally.

The Symposium has hosted with Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Maysles Documentary Center, Boston Court Performing Arts Center, The Getty Villa, Arts on Site NYC, Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, Cinema Kosmos Moscow, PAM, Revive Theater LA, and the University Library of Leuven.

All events presented by the Symposium are free to the public.

We value risk and audacity, and respect process and the mundane. Each year, submissions from poets, filmmakers, and artists arrive with a collective yet distinct voice. Programmers discern and frame that voice. As a result, we present a higher-than-average proportion of submissions.

Past collaborators, programmers, speakers: actors Robert Davi and Anatoliy Beliy, filmmakers Lynne Sachs, Nick Zedd, and Lili White, CUFF's Brian Ratigan, architect Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong, poets Kazmier Maślanka, Gabriele Tinti, and Cornelius Eady, Sundance Fellow Tony Patrick, Film Scholar Laura U. Marks, and the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation.

The Symposium draws a general audience alongside poets, filmmakers, students, scholars, cinema enthusiasts, and public officials from around the world. In-person discussions, Q&As, and reflective engagement are facilitated. Participants also benefit to the fullest extent our resources allow, including free lodging when possible, travel, visa assistance, and opportunities for meaningful networking and professional visibility.

Awards & Prizes

Poetry Impact Award
(Outstanding Poem presented within a film or video)

The Mercury Award
(Outstanding Experimental Film)

Outstanding Poetryfilm or Videopoem
Outstanding Choreopoem
Outstanding Essay Film
Outstanding Documentary
Outstanding Animation
Outstanding Performance Art Film or Video

Special Programmer's or Jury Award and Honorable Mentions

Rules & Terms

All submissions must be received no later than:
11:59 PM (PST) on August 31, 2026

Notification is October 1, 2026

There are no restrictions on total running time, production or completion date, premiere status, prior screenings (regional, online, or international), subject matter, theme, topic, language of origin, or exhibition format.

Works in progress will not be considered.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium does not provide notes or feedback on submitted films or projects.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium is not responsible or liable for any claims involving copyright, trademark, credit, or royalty infringement.

The submitter agrees to provide the exhibition format specified in the submission or agreed upon with the projectionist no later than two (2) weeks prior to November 1, 2026.

Entries in languages other than English must include English subtitles.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium respects the confidentiality of all submissions. Filmmakers’ materials, personal information, and project details will not be shared with third parties outside of programming, review, and Symposium-related purposes.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium reserves the right to copy and utilize accepted materials for non-commercial Symposium-related purposes, including screenings, promotions, programs, catalogs, trailers, and related events.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium reserves the right to determine eligibility for any submitted project and may remove a film or project from the Symposium for any reason or no reason, without liability or obligation for refunds or claims of any kind. If a film or project is removed, unable to screen due to technical or operational issues, or must be rescheduled, delayed, or withdrawn for any reason, the filmmaker(s), cast and crew, are not entitled to refunds or damages.

No revisions will be accepted after submission. Once a submission fee has been processed, no refunds will be issued.

All submitted films are archived with The Film and Video Poetry Society for internal record-keeping, historical documentation, and curatorial reference.

All decisions made by judges, programmers, advisors, and organizers are final, and submission fees are non-refundable.
14 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Carolina Meza

    I never received any messages or information from the festival. Neither did they answer my emails asking about the screenings of my short. Very informal and professional.
    I don't even know if the festival took place or not.

    January 2022
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    On the day of our last correspondence, Nov. 12, 2021, the Symposium entered a tragic and disruptive period. We did not communicate well with you. That is on us.

    On Oct. 9, 2024, we reached out to acknowledge this. Time had passed, we did not hear back. Even so, we reprogrammed 'Learning to Sing' for Nov. 7, 2024, at LACDA where it screened at 8pm.

    Carolina, your film remains a very significant selection for us. 'Learning to Sing' was contextualized within a program designed to confront the male gaze. Post-screening dialogue was transformative.

    We genuinely regret our miscommunication and are sorry.

  • Pat Boran

    I very much appreciate the support and encouragement. Good wishes to all involved, at this difficult time

    January 2022
    Helpful
  • Nick Twardus

    It was wonderful to screen my film Voice-Destroy on opening night of the last edition of this symposium. I highly recommend submitting to this festival, which features a warm selection team that programs a diverse selection of essay films!

    August 2021
    Helpful
  • M FREEMAN

    So honored to have Mercy included in the Film & Video Poetry Symposium! A wonderfully responsive event with a most generous spirit. Thank you!

    March 2021
    Helpful
  • Non Films

    What an amazing experience at this festival! Brilliant curation and prompt communication with the staff and crew, who definitely went above and beyond to make you feel welcomed. Highly recommended.

    January 2021
    Helpful