CASCADIA Collaborates with Ravenna Press for Anthology
Are you a poet? A writer? Did you attend this year's in person festival? Or watch the films during the online version of the festival? If so, we invite you to submit a written piece about your experience in response to the films or the festival itself for consideration in the upcoming ekphrastic anthology: STILLS: Where Cinema and Poetry Meet.This exciting new project is a collaboration with Ravenna Press and will result in the publication of an anthology of poetry and short prose pieces by writers responding to the films, scripts or issues and ideas related to film making, as featured at the 2025 Film Festival. Poems or prose pieces of all styles-- formal, experimental, prose, hybrid--may be submitted. Cover photo by Amy Kaufmann
Submission Details
While the festival itself focuses on women directors, the call for submissions is open to all poets, regardless of gender, identity and publication history. You do NOT need to be previously published to submit
Up to 3 pieces of work may be submitted by email addressed to The Editors Please include your work in the body of the email (no attachments) along with a cover note, your address, short bio and the poem or specific aspect of the festival to which your work responds. Place the word STILLS and your last name in your subject line. There is no reading fee. Deadline for submissions is August 1, 2025.
All selection decisions will be made by solely by Ravenna Press, independent of CASCADIA.
The book will be released in December 2025, with worldwide distribution.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Ravenna Press and CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival announce a call to poets for an upcoming ekphrastic anthology: STILLS.
WHAT: Ravenna Press seeks poems of all styles (formal, experimental, hybrid) as well as short prose pieces (prose poems, essays, riffs) that engage with the films, scripts, or ideas and issues related to film making featured at the 2025 CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival (“CASCADIA”).
WHY: We celebrate the transformative power of women’s storytelling, and the value of art-making across genres (film, creative writing). The project champions inclusivity, collaboration and innovation, and builds crossover bridges between readers, film-going audiences, poets and filmmakers. Although the Film Festival specifically platforms women-identifying filmmakers, the anthology is open to all poets of all genders and identities.
WHEN: The CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival takes place April 24 – 27, in Bellingham WA, with selected films additionally available to be viewed online from May 1 – May 11. Deadline for submission for the anthology is August 1, 2025. STILLS, a perfect bound paperback, will be released December 2025, with worldwide distribution.
HOW: Poets may attend part or all of the Festival in person or online. In-person festival attendance is highly encouraged for the opportunities to engage with writers, directors, actors, producers and industry professionals in addition to the film going experience. The purchase of an in-person or online multi-movie pass or single ticket supports the work of CASCADIA, a 501c(3) non-profit organization that platforms women filmmakers. Participating poets who intend to submit work may enter the discount code POET at checkout for discounted individual ticket prices. Please visit the festival’s ticketing site https://ciwff2025.eventive.org/welcome for details on how to purchase single, discounted, early bird or season tickets. Please note Early Bird All-Access passes are on sale until March 21, 2025. Individual tickets go on sale March 21.
Poems will be chosen for publication by a select committee appointed by the Ravenna Press editorial
board. CASCADIA staff and board are not involved with the selection of poems for publication,
nor may submit poems for consideration.
Please email the following in the body of an email (no attachments) to The Editors:
• 1-3 poems / prose pieces (please cite the inspiring film or panelist for each piece)
• Please note that prose poems/pieces are limited to 600 words.
• A brief cover letter
• Your address
• Short bio (50 words max)
Please put the word STILLS and your last name in the subject line.
There is no submission fee.
WHO:
Ravenna Press is an independent literary press publishing since 1999. Ravenna Press titles have been reviewed in Kirkus, The American Book Review, Rain Taxi, Bookslut, New Pages and other publications. Notable authors published by Ravenna include Kim Chinquee, Clarence Major, Norman Lock, Daniel Borzutsky, Margaret Diehl and Kristina Marie Darling.
CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival is a Bellingham, Washington-based festival dedicated to discovering, developing and showcasing emergent and expert women filmmakers and promoting the Pacific Northwest as a destination for film production and film going audiences.
Last year’s Honored Guest was Catherine Hardwicke, director of the groundbreaking Thirteen and the global phenomenon of Twilight.
OTHER: There is a long tradition in American letters of poetry’s engagement with cinema. Please see:
Poems About Movies - Big Bang Poetry
Poetry Goes to the Movies (poetryfoundation.org)
The 2025 anthology is a pilot project; if successful this may become an annual publication.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://ravennapress.com
CASCADIA Women’s International Film Festival | Bellingham
Questions? For details, please visit: CALL.pdf or Contact-Ravenna Press.
