About MVPF
The Midwest Video Poetry Fest was launched by ALL in 2020 as an expansion of the collaborative and experimental work we seek to support in Wisconsin and beyond. Video poetry gives creators an opportunity to use one of our newest art forms—film—to transform one of our oldest art forms—poetry. It includes narrative, animation, experimental, spoken word performances, and more. For a detailed explanation of what video poetry is and what it can be, see The Poetics of Poetry Film by Sarah Tremlett (available in the Small Press Library); you can read an interview with Sarah Tremlett here and see her video poem "Selfie with Marilyn." The video poetry festival, which invites new audiences to discover (or rediscover) poetry, is the first of its kind in Wisconsin. In the first five years, it has attracted over 2000 submissions from over 91 countries.
In 2025, Midwest Video Poetry Fest will take time to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished in the past five years and plan for the future. We are committed to continuing the growth of our international community with Wisconsin roots, and will keep you posted as things develop. If you like the work we’ve done and are interested in supporting the festival, please contact Rita Mae at ritamae@artlitlab.org.
Media Coverage
"Gabriella Cisneros 'Impermanence' creates a lasting cinematic impression," TONE Madison (2024)
"Midwest Video Poetry Fest reveals sweepingly collaborative, cross-disciplinary depths," TONE Madison (2023)
"4th Annual Midwest Video Poetry Festival Preview," at WORT FM (2023)
"Video Poetry Fest Brings Poetry To Your Eyes!" WORT-FM (2022)
"The third annual Midwest Video Poetry Festival greets upheaval with contemplation," TONE Madison (2021)
Isthmus (2021)
"Words, Camera, Action," Isthmus (2020)
2024
Thank you to everyone who came out in 2024! These programs will be available on ALL's YouTube channel for National Poetry Month in April 2025.
Watch now:
Golden in the Morning Crane Our Necks
Watch now:
2023
2022
2021
In 2021, we presented the festival in-person at ALL in Madison and at Woodland Pattern in Milwaukee. MVPF 2021 featured works from across the United States (including several from the Midwest), and from the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, China, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, and New Zealand. Midwest Video Poetry Fest (MVPF) is the first of its kind in Wisconsin and presents the work of local, national, and international poets and filmmakers.
MVPF 2021 Day 1
MVPF 2021 Day 2
2020
In our first year, nearly 50% of the selected videos were by BIPOC artists, and 14% featured LGBTQ+ work. We received over 1,600 submissions from 91 countries around the world, which was an incredible response, particularly for a first-time festival. Jurors selected 36 video poems, which were screened over two nights with live Q&As on Facebook and YouTube. The average production cost was over $800 per film.
MVPF 2020 Day 1
MVPF 2020 Day 2
Links to individual video poems:
"Glitter Gutter" featured on the ALL Review
"Hide Your Name" featured on the ALL Review
"A Piano" featured on the ALL Review
Thank you to our volunteers and supporters who have made the Midwest Video Poetry Fest possible.
