The Zebra Poetry Film Festival is a project of the Haus für Poesie and has been running since 2002. It is a platform for short films based on poetry – the poetry films. Every year it offers poets, filmmakers and festival organizers from all over the world a platform for creative exchange, brainstorming and encounters with a broad audience. With a competition, film programs, poetry readings, retrospectives, exhibitions, performances, workshops, colloquia, lectures and a children's program, it presents the diversity of the poetry film genre in various sections.

In general, short films tell short stories or surprise us with experimental images and sounds. Poetry films, on the other hand, deal with poetry in terms of content, aesthetics and form. Because of its high mediality, poetry is a cross-section of the arts that film uses to create trans-media art. As a genre-transcending form that appeals to a wide audience, the poetry film is an excellent vehicle for presenting the diversity of poetry.

Awards & Prizes

In 2025, the Zebra Poetry Film Festival is inviting entries for the International Poetry Film Competition! Eligible for entry are short films, based on poems of no more than 12 minutes duration, produced in or after 2024. All languages are allowed. The competition winners will be awarded prize money. A program committee will select films for the International Competition and for all other festival programs. The winning films will be chosen by a jury composed of representatives from the worlds of poetry, film, and media.

Rules & Terms

1. The organizer and promoter of the Zebra Poetry Film Festival is the Haus für Poesie.

2. Eligible for entry are international films which are no more than 12 minutes in duration and were produced in or after 2024. All films submitted for entry must be audio-visual versions of one or more poems. All languages are allowed.

3. Deadline to enter is February 1, 2026. Entries must include: film file (MP4 or MOV), German or English translation of the poem(s) with indication of the source, published by title and publisher and, if available, the name of the translator(s). (PDF, Word), a digital film still (JPEG or TIFF, HiRes Foto), very brief content summary of max. 200 characters incl. spaces (Log Line), biography (poet), biography and filmography (director). All texts must be provided in digital form. Pay attention to the exact formatting of poems (upper/lower case, stanzas, line breaks etc.). All submitted films which comply with the rules will automatically be considered for selection for the competition and the various programs.

4. A program committee will select the films for the International Competition and recommend to the festival director films which could be shown in other programs in the festival. A jury comprising representatives from the worlds of poetry, film and media will decide on the award of the principal prizes. Persons involved in the production and utilisation of any competition entry may not be members of the jury.

5. The festival reserves the right to screen films longer than 12 minutes. The acceptable screening format is MP4 or MOV. English subtitles are required on the screening copies of selected films only.

6. The decision of the jury is made by a simple majority. The jury shall deliberate and vote in private and its members shall be bound by the obligation of secrecy.

7. The prize money will be paid to the directors by bank transfer or PayPal.

8. All entrants will be notified by email of the results of the screening by April 1, 2026. Please make sure your email address is correct and legible. No inquiries regarding the selection process will be answered prior to this date. No film may be withdrawn from the Competition program once its participation has been confirmed by the Festival as of April 1, 2026.

9. By submitting your entry for the festival, you acknowledge these rules.

10. By submitting your entry, you confirm that you have ensured that third parties involved in the production also consent to the film’s submission for the festival.

11. By submitting your entry, you consent to the broadcasting of clips (video and audio up to 90 seconds) for use in news reports by journalists and for Zebra Poetry Film Festival advertising
purposes.
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  • l jo

    We enjoy your kind support and consideration. Our work being selected by ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival inspires us on our journey. Thank you for sharing with your audience and screening WATER at such an exceptional place in the center of Berlin. All the best to all of you!
    Thank you for keeping WATER flowing.
    Lars, Mariela, Elsye & Manuel

    November 2025
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  • Christen Bach

    It was a super sweet festival with an extremely well curated program. A lot more word focused than most film festivals, and so much fun to hang out with a good mix of filmmakers, poets and word-fetishists.

    June 2025
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  • Silke Müller

    Very kind team, responded to each mail, beautiful venue and this year was an all female jury. I felt very welcome. Thank you!

    June 2025
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  • Clotilde Rullaud

    Wonderful festival, with high-quality aesthetics & easy communication with the organisers.
    Thank you again for screening Matar Naem at your festival, a great honour! We are looking forward to the upcoming editions!

    June 2025
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  • Michael Jacob

    Wonderful festival, It was a pleasure having the opportunity to screen "Dawn" at this event

    February 2024
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