2025 Annual ruth weiss Poetry Contest

Honoring the Legacy of ruth weiss: A Call for Ekphrastic Poetry & Film

📢 CALLING ALL POETS & FILMMAKERS! 📢

The ruth weiss Foundation invites poets, artists, and filmmakers to honor the ingenuity and artistic span of ruth weiss—a pioneering Beat Generation poet, playwright, filmmaker, and actress—through our annual call for creative works. 

2025 theme: EKPHRASIS – Art Inspiring Art.

We seek original poetry submissions that explore the intersection of poetry, visual art, and film—reflecting the multidisciplinary spirit that defined ruth weiss’ life and work.

Categories & Submission Guidelines:

🖋️ Ekphrastic Poetry (1-page max)
Write a poem inspired by visual art, whether a painting, sculpture, photograph, or film.

🎥 Poetry Film (2–3 minutes)
Submit a poetry film that draws on ruth weiss’ life, creative ethos, or poetic themes. Whether shot on a camera, phone, or other media, we welcome innovation in the blending of poetry and film.

AWARDS & PUBLICATION

🏆 Annual Winners Announced late August 2025 in the following categories:
🔹 Maverick | 🔹 Emerging | 🔹 Youth

The Maverick Winner will be published in Caesura, a renowned Bay Area literary magazine, alongside a selected still image from their poetry film. All winners will be featured in Caesura’s online edition.

📅 Key Dates:
📢 June 1, 2025 – Contest Launch
📥 August 1, 2025 – Submission Deadline
🎉 August 21, 2025 – Finalists Announced
📽 Fall 2025 (TBD )– Winner Celebration & Film Screening at the Caesura Release Party

🎭 Celebrate the fusion of poetry and film.

Join us in honoring the legacy of ruth weiss—a creative force whose life’s work continues to inspire new generations of artists. Submit your voice, your vision, your response to art.