The 2026 Film And Video Poetry Symposium (8)

Works completed in this category fuse 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.

An essay film ("cinematic essay" or "personal essay film") 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.

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

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.

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 Film and Video Poetry Symposium will consider animated work that contains, focused on, or driven by poets, poems, poetry, poetic technique, literary movements, and historical events.

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 video mail art.

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 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.

These works include artificial Intelligence, computer animation (such as CGI or 3D animation), virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed or crossed reality, 360° video, algorithmic, websites, esoteric programming language, 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.

Innovative single or multi-channel works that engage poetry, text, and linguistic exploration through video, sound, performance, data-driven systems, and sculptural installation.

Projects driven by or focused upon poetry, poets, poems, poetic technique, and historical events within these realms. Episodic content must be interrelated, presented as narratively or topically connected, whether through documentation, traditional storytelling, or experimental forms. There are no restrictions regarding series length.

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 stage craft though can also be accomplished as a one person show or created solely as a film, video, or media presentation.

This category recognizes the songwriter as poet and the music video as a form of poetic cinema. Works from every musical tradition and genre are welcome, including hip hop, folk, classical, electronic, and experimental. Submissions ought to highlight lyricism and explore how language, music, movement, vocals, and imagery create a unified poetic experience.