~ Colin West ~

Filmpoem Festival 2017 program released

The Filmpoem Festival slated for Saturday, 28 October in Lewes, UK has released a very full and innovative program.

Some of the UK’s best spoken word poets come together to perform live, integrated with films inspired by poetry. Depot screens film poems from around the world and shows some fantastic national poetry competition films. And then it’s your turn – we round the evening off with an open mic session.

Helmie Stil, organiser of this year’s festival and filmmaker, created this trailer mainly from footage of the new 10 National Poetry Competition Films which will be shown at the festival. Original music by Lennert Busch.

The events include:

  • Première of two short animation films made by children during the Depot workshop, inspired by a poem by Colin West
  • Live poetry performances by Louisa Campbell, Maria Jastrzębska and Siân Thomas
  • Dean Atta will perform his poetry live, show his own poetry films, and also present three of his favorite poetry films from the South East
  • Filmpoem and The Poetry Society present the 10 National Poetry Competition 2016 winners realized as poetry-film
  • Madi Maxwell-Libby performs her poetry live, followed by a screening of the documentary We Belong, featuring Madi and seven other UK poets and spoken word artists on ‘state of the nation’ themes
  • Ross Sutherland’s live performance of Stand-By For Tape Back-Up, his well-reviewed videopoem about memory, death and re-runs
  • Open Competition winners presentation and screening
  • Matt Abbott performs his poetry live and shows his poetry films
  • Salena Godden, one of UK’s best spoken word poets, will perform exciting new work live, and will show, amongst other short films, her newest film poem RED, written and filmed in response to the tampon tax and period poverty
  • Open mic

A hearty congratulations to the organizers for such an exciting line-up! Book your tickets today.