The 2021 film and Video Poetry Symposium

Submissions Are Now Being Accepted

Deadline Saturday September 4, 2021

Poets, Writers, filmmakers, animators, video and digital artists, media and performance artists are called to submit creative works to The 4th Annual Film and Video Poetry Symposium.

FVPS will announce the 2021 program on Sunday October 4, 2021.

The symposium celebrates and will screen a large scope of film and video projects developed primarily through the medium of poetry.  FVPS2021 will host a series of panels, guest speakers, workshops, and public dialogues regarding film and video poetry throughout the course of the symposium. In addition to the screenings programmers also curate a 30-day gallery exhibition.

There are no restrictions regarding total running time of films submitted. There are no restrictions regarding when the film was produced or if the film has premiered regionally or internationally. There are no restrictions on subject matter, theme, topic, or language of origin.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium calls for poetry films, filmpoems, digital-poetry, poetry video, Cin(E)-Poetry, spoken word films, videopoema, visual poetry, choreopoems, poetrinca, media poetry, and all films and video that are driven by onscreen text.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium also excepts and supports experimental film and video work that explores language and/or literature whether it is oral, written, visual, or symbolic. This includes non-narrative work and the avant-guard. We strongly consider work that challenges traditional and current visual communication methods while continuing to function as a mode for exploring narrative forms and personal expression.

The Film and Video Poetry Symposium also calls for essay film, works of epistolary cinema, animation, choreopoems, performance art film and video, episodic content, oratorical works, documentary, video art, media art and installation, works created through immersive technologies, and episodic programming. Works that explore ASMR are also encouraged. Please see categories below for more details.

Videopoetry / Poetry Film
Videopoetry / Poetry Film fuses the use of spoken poetry, visual images, text, and sound. This fusion of visual images and poetry (both independent and interdependent) create a stronger presentation and interpretation of the meanings being conveyed. Videopoetry is also known as Video Poetry (two words), video-visual poetry, poetronica, poetry video, media poetry, or Cin(E)-Poetry.

Essay Film
An essay film (or "cinematic essay") consists of the evolution of a theme or an idea rather than a plot per se, or the film literally being a cinematic accompaniment to a narrator reading an essay. From another perspective, an essay film could be defined as a documentary film visual basis combined with a form of commentary that contains elements of an experience or a self-portrait (rather than autobiography), where the signature (rather than the life story) of the filmmaker is apparent. The cinematic essay often blends documentary, fiction, and experimental film making using tone and editing style.

Experimental
Operating outside the boundaries of mainstream cinema, the field of experimental film, experimental cinema, artists' moving image, and/or avant-garde cinema are modes of filmmaking that rigorously re-evaluates cinematic conventions and explore non-narrative forms and alternatives to popular narratives or methods of filmmaking. This category includes works completed not only on film, but also works created digitally or on video.

Documentary
Documentary is a nonfiction film or video work intended to constitute itself as a record of evidence about the past. The form is primarily used for archival records, instruction, education, advocacy, and journalism. The Film and Video Poetry Symposium will consider documentaries that contain or are focused on poets, poems, poetry, poetic technique, literary movements, and historical events within these realms.

Animation
Animations created through photographing successive images, drawings and/or positions of puppets, materials, items, or models in order to create an illusion of movement when shown in sequence. This includes stop motion, the digitally created, and the computer animated. The Film and Video Poetry Symposium will consider animated work that contain or are focused on poets, poems, poetry, poetic technique, literary movements, and historical events.

Choreopoems
A choreopoem is a form of dramatic expression comprised of choreography, dance, poetry, performative writing, music, song, art, and acting. These works are chiefly achieved by ensembles and are based in live stage though can be accomplished as a one person show or created solely as a film, video, or media presentation.

Epistolary Cinema
A film or video that is developed about, of, on, or from personal, public, and/or historic correspondences. Written, typed or printed communication such as letters, telegrams, diary and/or journal entries, blogs, emails, logbooks, travelogues, text messages, social media posts and/or timelines, records of conversations, and mail art.

Oratorical
Films or videos that focus upon and/or fuse together a historically important public address and/or a newly written speech with visual imagery (both may be independent and interdependent), to create a stronger presentation or interpretation of the meanings conveyed within the speech. This category also may include manifestos, monologues, prayer, sermon, invocation, inspirational speeches, keynote speeches, opening and closing arguments, direct to camera presentations, poetry readings, documented poetry recitals, staged spoken word performance, public announcements, and MCing.

Performance Art
Performance art is an artwork or art exhibition created through actions executed by an artist, a group of artists, and/or with participants. These projects may be live or within a staged reality, captured through documentation, written for camera, or presented to a public in a fine arts context.

New & Immersive Technologies
These works include virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed or crossed reality, 360° video, artificial intelligence, algorithmic, website, and telepresence projects created for a variety of apparatus, media installations, live cinematic performances, custom digital platforms, gaming platforms, experiences, interaction, or any combination of those elements that strongly incorporate the use of poetry, words, text, and language both visually and/or audibly.

Video Art & Media Installations
One or multi channeled video and/or audio works that are focused upon poetry, words, text imagery, or language. These works may be data driven, incorporate interior or exterior staging, non traditional audio design, and sculptural installation.

Episodic Content
Any live-action, documentary/ nonfiction, or animation project driven by or focused upon poetry, poets, poems, poetic technique, and historical events within these realms. Episodic Content must be presented in a multi-episode format. This includes web series, docuseries, limited series, or any other film or video project that was created to unfold over multiple episodes. Pilot episodes also qualify for submission. There are no restrictions regarding minimum or maximum episode or series length.

If you are a creator and are ready to submit to The 4th Annual Film and Video Poetry Symposium please complete our online submission form.

A Note for New & Immersive Technology, Media Installation, and Performance Pieces

FVPS recommends new technology projects, live performance, installations, multi channelled video art, and conceptual work to submit directly through email. Please refer to the Email Submission Guidelines below.

Virtual reality projects must be viewable via Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard. We request that you provide a link to a 360° video file (.mp4), a separate 2D version of the project as a URL, an app download package (.apk), and any other installation package applicable. Creators of performance pieces, multiple or non-traditional projections, video mapping, and installation/ conceptual works, please include the proposal, potential floor plan, and technical requirements with your email submission.

All projects submitted will be archived with The Film and Video Poetry Society.

If you would like to read about how FVPSociety is managing the pandemic caused by Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) please click here.

To complete the application process please complete the online submission form by pressing the button below.

Process Submission Fee

Deadline for all submissions is 11:59PM PST, Saturday September 4, 2021.

Submission fee is $20 USD per film, video, or media project.

To pay the submission fee press the Send Payment button below.

Alternative Payment Methods

The 2021 Film and Video Poetry Symposium excepts cryptocurrency.

Currently The FVPS Wallet supports Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, XRP, Stellar Lumens, Dogecoin, and all ERC-20 tokens (including USDC and DAI). To pay the submission fee using these tokens please press the button below.

Finalize Submission

Your submission form must include proof of payment. To complete the process entirely you must input the Transaction ID as proof of payment on the submission form where indicated.  The Transaction ID is a numeric code containing 5 digits and is located on the email confirmation you receive after payment. Once you have included your proof of payment you are ready to submit your completed submission form. 

Online Submission Form

Online submission is available by clicking here.

Email Submissions

All email submissions must be accompanied by a completed PDF submission form. If you would like to apply via email please download the PDF submission form, fill it out, and then save a copy so that it may be attach to your email. To download the PDF submission form please click here.

Please place the name of your film in the email subject heading.  Within the email body, include a brief synopsis of your film (100 words) and if applicable a link that will allow our team to download information regarding the project, or to view visuals on a 3rd party media service. Please include password for the URL if password protected. URL and password must remain valid until selection process concludes and the FVPS 2020 program is announced. 

You are welcome to attach additional documents to your email submission pertaining to mission or artistic statement, exhibition history, publicity materials, press kits, bios, and curriculum vitae.

Our team will not open or review emails with documents and/or media attached as zip files, 7-zip or other converted formats. Do not submit Google Share documents. PDF Documents preferred.

Email your submission to the following address:

Submissions@FVPSociety.com

Postal Submissions

A snail mail submission must be accompanied by a completed PDF submission form. If you would like to submit via snail mail please download the PDF submission form, fill out the PDF submission form, and then save before printing out. Download PDF submission form by clicking here.

Include the completed submission form with receipt of payment or a money order.  You may also include a hard copy of the project if applicable. Preferred formats include data cd or dvd in which the media is encoded as an .avi, .mpg, or .mp4. DVDs must be encoded for Region 1. Inclusion of documents pertaining to exhibition history, mission or artistic statement, publicity materials, press kits, bios, and curriculum vitae are welcome. 

Mail your completed submission package to the address provided below:

The Film and Video Poetry Society
2021 FILM AND VIDEO POETRY SYMPOSIUM
1001 Fremont Avenue | Post Office Box 1131
South Pasadena, Ca. 91030 - 9998

Money Orders and Cashier Checks

All money orders and cashier checks must be made payable to:
The Film and Video Poetry Society

We do not accept personal, international, or business checks.

Alternative Submission Methods

FVPS can also receive your submission through Filmfreeway.com or FestHome.com.

If you have registered a project on one of these self distribution platforms please submit to FVPS2020 by clicking their link below!