Save the dates!

This year, the International Thuringian Poetry Film Festival will take place in Weimar from 4 to 6 June and will explore the relationship between ‘poetry slam’ and ‘poetry film’. It will also showcase new poetry films produced in Weimar. During the festival, there will be poetry readings, spoken word performances, a student ‘New Talents’ programme, and a discussion on artificial intelligence and its artistic value for film production. The highlight of the festival is once again the presentation of the Weimar Poetry Film Award. We look forward to a colourful programme featuring fantastic artists and an inspiring exchange with filmmakers and interested members of the public.

The Festival starts with a special Highlight this year: Opening with a film production from Weimar.

The opening film, “Karten der Wildnis”, was commissioned by the Literarische Gesellschaft in 2020. Taking as its starting point the historical land surveys carried out by Carl Friedrich Gauss and Christian Ludwig Gerling, the 15-minute film explores the limits of measurability. Precise tools encounter weather, distance and that which cannot be fully captured. Analogue techniques and a text by the Thuringian poet Daniela Danz serve as starting points for new perspectives from seven female animation artists from Weimar.The film was produced by FilmVermögen GmbH of Grimma and Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, and funded by the Thuringian State Chancellery, the Bauhaus University, the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony and MDM Medienförderung. The film will celebrate its nationwide festival premiere on May 7th, 2026 at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.

The full programme will be published in mid-May.

21. Mai
Vernissage
Art Exhibition “Räume der Verwandlung. Junge Kunst von der Bauhaus-Universität”
LiteraturETAGE, Marktstraße 2-4, 99423 Weimar

28. Mai
book presentation
Rike Reiniger: „24 Bilder pro Sekunde. Biografischer Roman über Lotte Reiniger – Pionierin des Trickfilms“
LiteraturETAGE, Marktstraße 2-4, 99423 Weimar

04. Juni
Opening
„Karten der Wildnis” Thuringia premiere with a reading by Daniela Danz
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„Un Poeta“ by Simón Mesa Soto (Festival de Cannes; Jurypreis 2025)
Kino MonAmi, Goetheplatz 11, 99423 Weimar

05. Juni
Fokus / Focus: “Spoken Word”
film programs at Kino MonAmi and live performances at Radio Lotte
Goetheplatz 11&12, 99423 Weimar

6. Juni
special programs & award ceremony
Poetry readings, AI discussion; special program ‘new talents‘ as well as concert, film screening & award ceremony
Lichthaus Kino, Am Kirschberg 4, 99423 Weimar

We look forward to seeing you in Weimar!