Helen Dewbery
Helen Dewbery is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Societry and a filmmaker who created the website Poetry Film Live, which explores the craft of poetry film. She co-runs Poetry Film Club and the Poetry Film Festival with Lucy English and is the author of How to Make a Poetry Film.
She has taught poetry film extensively, in person and online. Teaching is an integral part of her practice, and her main focus is helping people find the stories they want to tell through poetry, and turning them into enjoyable and interesting poetry films. Helen is particularly interested in enabling people’s own capacity, teaching them both the practical and technical skills of poetry filmmaking, alongside conceptual and critical engagement.
Her work has appeared internationally at poetry and film festivals, where she has also presented talks and curations.
Helen's recent work In An Ideal World I’d Not be Murdered was launched during November 2023. Screenings have included: Bristol (UK), Houston (US) for the Reel Poetry Film Festival, London at the Club for Acts and Actors in Covent Garden, Aberystwyth Poetry Festival, The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum in Cheltenham. Here is a trailer to that poetry film.
Poetry Film Live was created to:
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Widen participation and open doors, particulalrly for poets who are eager to learn the craft of poetry film.
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Forge connections, create meaningful conversations and exchang ideas.
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Provide platforms where both seasoned practitioners and budding poetry film makers can showcase their work.
Projects and Events
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How to Make a Poetry Film. A handbook for poets. Elephants Footprint Press, 2025
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Aberystwyth, 2025
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Exeter, 2025
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South Yorkshire, 2025
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CAA, London, 2024
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Glastonbury, 2024
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Launch of In an ideal World I’d Not Be Murdered: the film, Bristol, 2023
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Essay 'Making a Poetry Film' in Poetry Projects to Make and Do, Nine Arches Press, 2023
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Workshop at Belfast Book Festival, 2023
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Verve Poetry Festival, 2023, 2024
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Bologna in Lettere 2021
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Athens International Video Poetry Festival 2016, 2019
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Festival Silêncio in Lisbon 2016
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Visible Verse Poetry Film Festival in Vancouver, 2015.
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Sadho Poetry Film Festival, New Delhi, 2015.
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The Lighthouse Film Poem competition in Poole, 2015.
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Liberated Words International Poetry Film Festival in 2013 and 2014.
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Cheltenham Poetry Festival (2013, 2014)
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Swindon Festival of Poetry (2014, 2015)
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The University of Gloucestershire (2013, 2014)
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The Dymock Poets Conference (2015)
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Film Weston (2014)
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Bristol Spring Poetry Festival (2015)
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Writers in the Brewery (2013)
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The Tivoli (2014)
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Green Light at Bordeaux Quay in Bristol with Inkling Productions (2016)
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The Masons Arms London NW10 (2016)
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The Berkeley Square Poetry Review, Bristol (2016)
Other projects include:
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Programme of poetry film events at Poetry Swindon Festival, including events in the community and an outdoor projection (2012 - 2019).
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Recipient of four Arts Council England grants to develop writing and poetry film projects.
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Bath Fringe Festival 2014: Still Points Moving World performance writing exhibition.
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Regular solo and group photographic exhibitions at The Gardens Gallery.
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Photographs of Nature exhibition at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, 2011.
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Nothing in the Garden by Chaucer Cameron and Helen Dewbery, 2014, a poetry and photographic collection.
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Co-edited The Museum of Light, 2014, a poetry and photography collaboration.
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Co-edited Salt on the Wind: Poetry in Response to Ruth Stone, 2015.