Call For Submissions: 5th Indigenous and Minoritised Languages Video Poems Marathon
27 January 2025: PEN International’s Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee (TLRC) is thrilled to announce the 5th Indigenous and Minoritised Languages Video Poems Marathon, running from 21 February 2025 (International Mother Language Day) to 21 March 2025 (World Poetry Day).
This initiative celebrates the diversity of linguistic communities and literary works that are often overlooked. Every new poem created in a minoritised language revitalises that language and empowers its artists. By sharing these poems alongside others in similar linguistic situations, we contribute to a global tapestry of voices, strengthening cultures too often deprived of visibility.
Over the past four years, we have collected more than 200 poems in around 140 languages worldwide. Now, it’s your turn to join this vibrant movement!
How to Participate
Poem Requirements:
Read or recite by the author only in the original language.
Recorded horizontally (panoramic mode).
Duration: 30 seconds to 1 minute (maximum 1.5 minutes).
No editing or post-production – just the poet and the poem.
Ensure clear audio to highlight the beauty of the language.
Text Requirements:
Submit the poem text with translations (ideally side-by-side).
If the poem isn’t in the Latin alphabet, include a transcription.
Add a brief context about the language (250 characters).
Technical Specifications:
Video resolution: 1920 x 1080.
Send the original files via platforms like Drive, WeTransfer, or Dropbox to [email protected].
The deadline is 14 February 2025, but we encourage you to contact PEN International TLRC as soon as possible.
Can Centres in Non-Minoritised Languages Participate?
Yes. While this space is reserved for poets in minoritised languages, there are meaningful ways to contribute:
Collaborate Locally: Invite poets from minoritised or indigenous communities in your region to participate and build new relationships.
Translate: Help translate poems into your language or create subtitles to amplify their reach. The TLRC will add subtitles, and your Centre can use these translations in its activities.
For questions or further details, contact PEN International TLRC at [email protected].