FVPSociety’s Outlook Regarding COVID-19 and our 2020 Programming

Dear family and friends,

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to force public events to cancel or postpone, The Film and Video Poetry Society encourages our peer organizations to stand with us and take to the difficult responsibility to prioritize public health. Let us make our stand publicly for not only those who participate with our platforms, but for those within the total of our communities.  The Film and Video Poetry Society commends the programmers, organizers, and coordinators that have made public statements in an alliance to safety and awareness. We also commend the organizations that have made the difficult but responsible choice to cancel or postpone their events.

With this in mind, The Film and Video Poetry Society will postpone our 3rd annual symposium; we are hopeful, and are committed to rescheduling for fall 2020. Submissions remain open and our deadline extended to August 3, 2020.

We apologize for not being swift with this announcement and must surrender to the shortcomings of our mission statement and the experience necessary to understand our role during an international crisis.  Our platform is now consistently and directly in contact with public health officials in several cities. FVPS has pledged to follow ethical guidelines regarding rescheduling and postponements.

This is a blow to our developing culture and a challenge to our mission statement. This international crisis will have ramifications for not only festivals and artists; but for nonprofits and companies who support them.  We anticipate the practice of new business and health awareness protocols within theaters, with partnered film societies, sponsors, and arts organizations around the world.

We are deeply saddened for everyone whose lives and careers are being disrupted by this pandemic, especially the poets, educators, filmmakers, and artists who are at the very heart of our platform. We are also encouraged by the countless supporters who have seized this moment to champion independent media.

The Film and Video Poetry Society will continue to pursue new and experimental ways to support and connect artists and audiences online. We look forward to this experience strengthening our return to the cinemas and theaters around the globe.

Most importantly, we would like to emphasize that art cannot always be made for entertainment purposes.  Sometimes art must take a step away from self-process.  Art must sometimes spark a creative fire for others in need, to purposely foster awareness and compassion, bring together opposing cultures or ideals, and help us find healing, purpose, and understanding.

The Film and Video Poetry Society has deep praise for those who made films while in exile for their thoughts or beliefs, for those who made art during war, who smuggled canvases or photographs across violent boarders, for those who wrote words or music for the hearts and the spirit of man, as they were kept confined or separate from their loved ones.  We are grateful to you for this opportunity and are reminded of higher missions.


With thanks and solidarity,
The Film and Video Poetry Society