Welcome to REELpoetry. We’re a hybrid international poetry film festival in Houston, Texas, that showcases short films and videos infused with poetry or with a strong poetic sensibility. We’re open to work that’s wordless, experimental, animated, or documentary and, of course, films and videos that include poetry.
REELpoetry International Poetry Film Festival was originally created in 2018 as an annual program for Public Poetry by founder and director (2011-2024), Fran Sanders. In 2025, she left Public Poetry to focus exclusively on REELpoetry as its own event. We’re no longer a non-profit organization, and the Festival’s now turning to community funding to maintain it. We hope you’ll help.
REELpoetry provides a platform to tell our stories, and demonstrate the impact we, individually and collectively, have on our planet and on one another. Documenting poetry online in imaginative ways is essential for poets. But, more; this is a creative art form in its own right that challenges us to use poetry, film and video in new and exciting ways.
In the Silence of White by Odveig Klyve
Our 2026 season starts with an Open Call in February 1 on Filmfreeway where anyone can send us work under 6 minutes. Entries are judged by an international panel of noted curators and festival directors.
Throughout the year, we offer online craft workshops, networking events, and a ‘help wanted’ for poets, filmmakers, and videographers looking for collaborators.
Our eighth festival, September 19 – 26, 2026 takes place in-person and on-line, screening an exciting selection of US and World premieres, themed programs, juried submissions commissioned collaborations, a separate category for under 18, and inventive poetry performances in American Sign Language (ASL).
REELcafe, hosted online by festival director, Fran Sanders, is great for networking globally, so you can see-and-be-seen each day wherever you are! Meet the judges, curators, international festival directors and talent to talk about the screenings, your own work, questions, ideas, etc.
Essentially, REELpoetry offers a platform where craft and creativity intertwine, connections develop, new collaborations spring up, images speak words and the language spoken on the screen is poetry. There are lots of opportunities for you to participate and we’d love to have you join us. We always encourage your ideas and feedback to shape REELpoetry and to support this creative community.
Although becoming a community member is optional, our festival’s options depend on you. When you join us as a Community Member, benefits include craft classes; member directory profile; BOGO deals; discounts on submissions and festival tickets, member meet-ups, special members’ merch, recognition on our website, and more. Join today; you’ll be glad you did!
