CALL FOR ENTRIES: Submit your 2026 work today!

2026 Festival

September 18-25, 2026

Starting New Traditions in 2026  

We’re adding a new, rich dimension to our festival on-line and in person. We’ve opened up our Open Call to encompass not only films and videos that present poetry, but also work that reflects a strong poetic sensibility.

Poetry is much more than language, and extends beyond words. A strong poetic sensibility can be found in works that are silent, experimental, animated or documentary. We’re recognizing this fact with a new submission category titled “Poetic Sensibility,” and also with expanded laurels categories. For additional details see FilmFreeway guidelines.

We Hear You. We See You.

Everybody wants their work to be seen, and we are creating new opportunities for that. Everyone whose work is juried in will have their work screened online in front of a national and international audience. If you receive a “Best” laurel, your work will be shown again with other “ Besties” at the festival’s conclusion.

 

Additionally, your work will also be part of a new program that screens in the theater in front of a live audience. During the festival, you’ll have an opportunity to talk about your work and hear what others have to say at our daily REELcafe.

 

We are moving our annual festival from Spring to Fall. The next upcoming REELpoetry, our 8th international poetry film festival, will take place September 18-25, 2026.

2025 Festival

The 2025 Festival ran from March 31 through April 12.  It included International entries from Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, and Spain as well as the USA. Many of these juried selections were U.S. and world premieres!  The full scope of the festival included juried open submissions, programs by invited national and international curators, commissioned collaborations, a Texas showcase, craft talks, deaf poetry performances in Sign Language, and work by creatives under 18.

Want to Volunteer?

Presenting a festival like REELpoetry is a full time, year-round job, and takes a village. Whether you’ve got just a little time or a lot, there are many areas where you can help. If you’d like to intern with us in marketing and social media, help with administrative work (short term or long term), or put your special skills to work, we’d love to have you join our team.

COMING SOON!

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