HAUS FÜR POESIE

Nearly 800 submissions from over 85 countries were entered for the Zebra Poetry Film Festival 2026. A program committee selected 55 of them for the International Competition. This year, the following awards will be presented on Sunday, June 7 by the three-member jury consisting of Irina Bondas (selection team Berlinale Forum), Katrin Küchler (editor at MDR – unicato), and Odile Kennel (poet): the “Zebra Award for Best Poetry Film”, presented by Haus für Poesie; the “Goethe Film Award – The Art of Utopia”, presented by the Goethe-Institut; and the “Ritter Sport Film Award”, presented by Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG.

The short film program also deals with topics such as violence, separation, loss and emotional stress. Some films contain explicit depictions and intense emotional scenes that can be disturbing.

Saturday Night Blues
USA 2025 | 3 min | Director: Jean Coleman | Poem: Saturday Night Blues | Poet: Brontez Purnell

En attendant les barbares | Περιμένοντας τους Βαρβάρους | Waiting for the Barbarians
FRA/GRC 2026 | 12 min | Director: Georges Sifianos | Poem: Περιμένοντας τους Βαρβάρους | Poet: Constantine Cavafy

Šūpoles | Swings
LVA 2025 | 4 min | Director: Madara Gruntmane | Poem: Viņa tik izmisīgi mīl | Poet: Madara Gruntmane

einwegwurzeln | teeth
DEU 2025 | 13 min | Director: paula van well | Poem: einwegwurzeln | Poet: paula van well

Mitosis
NLD 2024 | 4 min | Director: Desi Mensah | Poem: Mitosis | Poet: Louise Glück

Epicrisis
ARG 2025 | 7 min | Director: Diana Martínez Tancredi | Poem: Epicrisis | Poet: Diana Martínez Tancredi

Marineren | Marinating
NLD 2025 | 4 min | Directors: Helmie Stil, Sjaan Flikweert | Poem: Marineren | Poet: Sjaan Flikweert

Following the film screenings, there will be Q&As with the filmmakers and poets.

Moderation Gian-Philip Andreas    

OmeU