Poetry Film Festival On Tour

Guests: Sjaan Flikweert and Helmie Stil 

At the Poëziefilmfestival, audiences can discover the finest poetry films in the country. Especially for Poetry International, the team behind the festival have made a selection of short poetry films by makers from all walks of life in which poetry and film meet in surprising ways. Prior to the selection of films, Helmie Stil, artistic director of the Poetry Film Festival and artist Sjaan Flikweert will engage in conversation to tell the audience a little bit more about the creative process that goes into the making of poetry films. 

Sjaan Flikweert is an interdisciplinary performing artist. She makes spoken word poetry, music, dance, theater and film. For her, stories have the magical power to connect people and represent something new or different. It takes us by the hand beyond the limits of our own limitations. Sjaan has been an active performing artist at home and abroad for over 14 years. She was featured in the anthology HARDOP and she has been published in Tirade. She is part of the foundation of Poetry Circle and has worked for AYA, de Gasten, Bühnenbiest, Rover company, Silbersee, Nanoek and Dox, among others. She released two audiovisual poetry collections: Ergens thuis en de ruimte ertussen  (Lonely Wolf Festival and NPF nomination) and De werkelijkheid heeft mij niet nodig (selected for NFF and NPF) . She organizes BYMEKAAR, a bi-monthly improvisational concert with music, spoken word, and dance.

Helmie Stil is an award-winning filmmaker, specialised in poetry films. She is one of the directors of the Dutch Poetryfilm Festival and director of poertycinema - films inspired by poetry. Her films have been shown on national television and international film festivals. Helmie was awarded with the audience prize at the Weimar Poetry Filmfestival, won the Cadence Video Poetry Award, and she was selected for the prestigious Outspoken Poetry Prize London. Helmie works together with organisations as the Poetry Society in London and Motionpoems in America.