Cadence Video Poetry Festival
About
Welcome to Cadence Video Poetry Festival!
Header image credit: corps minéral, dir. Charline Dally, Gabrielle Harnois-Blouin
Cadence Video Poetry Festival, presented by Northwest Film Forum, programmed in collaboration with Seattle author Chelsea Werner-Jatzke and artist Rana San, is a series of screenings, workshops, and discussions on the genre of video poetry, during National Poetry Month.
Cadence approaches video poetry as a literary genre presented as visual media that makes new meaning from the combination of text and moving image. Featuring screenings, an artist residency, generative workshops for youth and adults, and juried awards, the festival fosters critical and creative growth around the medium of video poetry.
7th Annual Cadence Video Poetry Festival Apr 25–28 [In-Person] & Apr 25 – May 5 [Online]
Apply for the Artist Residency
The Cadence Artist-in-Residence program provides resources and tools for the development of a new video poem to screen at the festival.
Applications are open through Dec. 15, 2023.
ABOUT
Northwest Film Forum selects an artist or artist team of two to develop a new video poem for inclusion in Cadence Video Poetry Festival each year. The selected artist(s) will have access to NWFF’s film equipment and edit lab, as well as an opportunity to receive training or participate in a scheduled workshop to develop or supplement their filmmaking and/or editing skills. The Artist-in-Residence will be asked to participate in a post-screening conversation with festival co-directors and other participating artists.
BACKGROUND
The Artist Residency launched in 2019 as part of the festival’s commitment to fostering the generation of new video poetry.
ELIGIBILITY
Artists or artist teams of two residing in Seattle, 18 years of age or older.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline for consideration is 11:59pm PT, Dec 15, 2023.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Artist-in-Residence will be selected on the basis of their distinct vision and voice, as demonstrated in work samples, and their commitment to developing new work within the medium of video poetry.
TIMELINE
The Artist-in-Residence must meet the following deadlines and produce a finished work for one of the festival screening dates. Workshop participation, edit lab, and gear use are optional, though highly encouraged.
Dec. 15, 2023 – deadline for application
Early-Jan. 2024 – all applicants notified of decision
Mid-Jan. – Mid-Apr. 2024 – residency via NWFF
Apr. 25–28, 2024 – single screening of final video poem within one in-person showcase of Cadence Video Poetry Festival
Apr. 25 – May 5, 2024 – on demand screening of final video poem within one online showcase of Cadence Video Poetry Festival
CONTACT
Please direct questions to cadencevideopoetry@gmail.com.
Image credit: refrigerator hum by jade wong
Submit your poetry book
Cadence hosts a virtual Poetry Book Fair as a literary resource to share the work of artists the festival has featured and worked with over the years. If you are a current or former Cadence participant, we’d love to include your book in the lineup!
Eligible artists submit here >
See the 2023 edition of the book fair here >

Chelsea Werner-Jatzke
Cadence Co-Director

Rana San
Cadence Co-Director