FVPS calls filmmakers to the world of poetry
The Film and Video Poetry Symposium keeps its doors open for filmmakers who want their work shown on screens rather than screens alone. The annual gathering still runs in Los Angeles, mixing short films, installations, and live programs across nearly a month of venues that range from micro-cinemas to architecturally notable spaces.
Founders launched the Film and Video Poetry Society in 2014 and staged the first symposium three years later. The stated mission remains unchanged: to celebrate artistic excellence that joins poetry, film, video, and new media, and to bring together poets, filmmakers, and audiences for screenings, readings, and conversation that frame contemporary issues.
Recent Symposium Highlights and Programming Trends
The 2025 edition stretched from October 2 through October 25, with a full schedule posted weeks ahead. The 2024 program presented sixteen film blocks and ten media installations at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art. Those numbers reflect a steady pattern: multi-week runs that combine traditional cinema slots with site-specific work rather than single-night premieres.
What is FVPS accepting for the Symposium?
Submissions still center on poetry films, videopoetry, experimental film, essay film, and documentaries that focus on poets, poems, or literary movements. The call also welcomes hybrid proposals such as live performances, virtual-reality pieces, video mapping, and installation work that carries a strong poetic element. Project length is open; a short lyric piece and a longer essay film sit on equal footing provided the work fits one of the listed categories.
What submission categories are there for the FVPS?
Four main categories continue to guide submissions. Video Poetry fuses spoken text, image, and sound so that neither element simply illustrates the other. Essay Film tracks the development of an idea or theme rather than a conventional plot, often blending documentary and experimental techniques. Experimental Film challenges narrative and technical conventions outright. Documentary entries must address poets, poems, poetic technique, or related literary history. Awards recognize work in Best Video Poem, Outstanding Poem, Best Experimental Film, Best Essay Film, and Best Choreopoem.
How much does it cost to enter?
The standard entry fee now stands at twenty-five dollars; students pay a reduced rate. Filmmakers facing financial hardship can request a fee waiver through the same online process. The society posts downloadable forms on its site and accepts both email and mailed entries when needed.
How to Submit in 2026
The 2026 deadline falls on August 31 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. Applicants complete an online form, upload a downloadable PDF if preferred, or mail materials to the address listed on the call-for-entries page. Once the portal closes, programmers review work for the November 1–28 run. Full program details appear on the FVPS site shortly after selections are finalized.
FVPS in the Broader Poetry Film Festival Landscape
Other events share the same calendar window. The International Poetry Film Festival Los Angeles reached its fifth edition in 2026, while the Zebra Poetry Film Festival continues to seek short poetry-driven pieces from around the world. Filmmakers often route the same work through multiple calls, using each festival’s distinct curatorial lens to reach different audiences.
Community Impact and Ongoing Mission
Since the 2020 postponement, FVPS has maintained an active mailing list and social channels that announce open calls and panel lineups months in advance. Recent programs still include workshops, moderated discussions, and collaborative projects that extend the conversation beyond the screening room. The society’s emphasis on literacy, cultural exchange, and critical engagement has remained consistent even as formats shift from single-site events to multi-week, multi-venue schedules.
Filmmakers who treat language as image and image as language continue to find a receptive home at the symposium. The next submission window opens well before the November dates, giving poets and directors time to refine pieces that speak to both page and screen.
