~ Justin Stephenson ~
Upcoming poetry-film and videopoetry screenings
Autumn is usually a busy time for poetry-film events around the world, and I never quite manage to announce all of them, but it’s interesting to note their number and diversity even if this comes too late for some. In that category goes this past Friday’s screening of videopoetry in Mallorca, Sinestesia, with twelve films from Spain and abroad. It’s not too late, though, for anyone in Argentina this week to make plans to attend one of VideoBardo’s 20th anniversary festival screenings from the 8th to the 12th. And even those of us who can’t make it should extend our congratulations to the festival’s organizers for an extraordinarily long and successful run.
Coming up a week from Wednesday, on November 16, the winning films from this year’s ZEBRA festival will be screened in Berlin at the Zebra Poetry Gala.
The ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival Münster/Berlin celebrates its prizewinning films. Shortly after the 8th edition of the festival has been brought to a close in Münster, the winners of four competitions come to Berlin. “Kino-King” Knut Elstermann from radioeins presents the winning films and filmmakers, along with musical guests.
And finally, I’ve gotten word of one more screening of Justin Stephenson’s poetry film The Complete Works, for a total of two remaining in 2016: the first at the Niagara Artists Centre in Saint Catharines, Ontario on November 23 at 8:00 p.m., and the second in Winnipeg at the Cinemateque on December 15 at 7:00 p.m.
I should also note that although no date has been set yet for International Film Poetry Festival in Athens (sometime in December, I guess), submissions remain open through November 20.
World premiere of new poetry film based on the work of bpNichol
I’ll be back from my mini-vacation next week and return to a full posting schedule, but in the meantime I wanted to pass on one exciting piece of news: Canadian filmmaker Justin Stephenson‘s film The Complete Works, based on the work of avant-garde poet bpNichol, is at last, er, complete. The world premiere screening will be at the Queensland Poetry Festival next Sunday, August 30; for details, see the Facebook event page.
Fifteen years in the making the film explores Nichol’s work through a series of filmic translations, remixes and transformations. It features filmed performances by many authors including Daphne Marlatt, Roy Miki and Stephen Ross Smith. The Complete Works is a unique look at the work and practice of a seminal Canadian poet.
Nichol’s work embodied a playfulness, generosity and charm that is unparalleled in the challenging world of avant garde poetry. The Complete Works documents Nichol’s poetic methods – it is not an expression of his work or a biographical story, but an exploration of his practice and the implications of the poetic writing.
Before the screening, Lance Sinclair will introduce this important film and Justin Stephenson himself, who is proudly presented in partnership with Canada Arts Council.
Sun 30 Aug 630pm, QPF 2015
Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
Main Theatre
No tickets, general admission on the night.
Here’s the trailer:
