We are thrilled to announce that filmmaker Abdullah Harun Ilhan from Palestine/Turkiye, with his superb poetry film Free Words – A Poet from Gaza, has won Ó Bhéal’s 13th poetry-film competition, as announced at the Ó Bhéal Poetry Film Festival awards ceremony.

Free Words – A Poet from Gaza was chosen from 176 submissions received from 140 filmmakers in 41 countries. The 2025 shortlist represents 18 countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Dubai, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Spain, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Turkey, UK, Ukraine and the USA.
 

Poems: What is Home? / We Love What We Have

Synopsis – “Free Words: A Poet from Gaza” is a documentary-poetryfilm that explores the life and artistry of Mosab Abu Toha, a gifted poet whose voice resonates from the heart of Gaza. The film delves into Mosab’s journey as he navigates the complexities of living in oppression and occupation. Detained by the Israeli military, Mosab’s imprisonment sparked an outcry from the international literary community, highlighting the profound impact of his work and the power of poetry as a tool.

Director: Abdullah Harun Ilhan (Palestine/Turkiye)

Abdullah Harun İlhan was born in Malatya, Türkiye. His interest in visual arts began at an early age. This interest led him to shoot his first short film at the age of eleven. More than one hundred short films and documentaries he made were shown at international film festivals and were awarded several awards. Ilhan graduated from various universities and film schools from the USA, UK, Türkiye, South Korea and Qatar. He has contributed to film and photography projects in around 70 countries. He continues his work in Turkish, English and Arabic languages.

“A new phrase has entered my lexicon since this year’s Ó Bhéal Poetry Film Competition – Documentary Poetry Film – It’s where a film can have elements of poetry and elements of short documentary combined. As a poetry film maker, myself, I am excited to make one of these, and I already have a Gold Standard to aspire to. That’s the wonderful – Free Words – A Poet from Gaza – overall winner this year. In it Director Abdullah Harun Ilhan interweaves the deeply moving poetry of Mosab Abu Toha with his skill as a documentary maker to create an important piece of film art. I can’t wait to read more of Abu’s poems and watch more of Abdullah’s films.”

“I was spellbound by the combined power of Abdullah’s film and Mosab’s poems. Ten riveting minutes that passed in the blink of an eye. Sublime storytelling. Superlative filmmaking.”

2025 Irish Poetry-Film Shortlist >>>

2025 International Poetry-Film Shortlist >>>
 

Judges Colm Scully & Paul Casey, selected one winner to receive the Ó Bhéal International award for best poetry-film, designed by glass artist Michael Ray, plus a cash prize of 500 euros. The best Irish Poetry Film won a cash prize of 250 euros. Winners were announced directly after the shortlist screenings at the Cork Arts Theatre, and online via our website and social media channels.

     
We are delighted to announce the winners and shortlisted entries from Ó Bhéal’s 12th Five Words International Poetry Competition, judged by Lauren O’Donovan.

[L-R] Ann Atkins, Amy Rugg, Catherine Ronan and Cédric Bikond

In August 2024 Ó Bhéal welcomed Coventry poets Ann Atkins and Amy Rugg for two readings at Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word as part of the twin cities exchange. Catherine Ronan and Cédric Bikond represented Cork for a reciprocal visit and were hosted for two readings in Coventry during early November, also with a visit to the Lord Mayor, hosted by Ó Bhéal’s partner Here Comes Everyone / Fire & Dust. Reviews, images and links from each poet follow.

We are delighted to announce that Anya Ryzhkova from Germany (ex Russia), with her powerful film 09.01.berkovich has won Ó Bhéal’s 12th poetry-film competition, as announced at the 12th Winter Warmer Poetry Festival awards ceremony.

09.01.berkovich was chosen from 174 submissions entered by 144 filmmakers in 29 countries. The 2024 shortlist represents 15 countries: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, UK and USA. The full shortlist and screenings are here.
 

Poem: Untitled

Synopsis – The film is based on a speech by the Russian theater director Evgenia Berkovich. Together with the playwright Svetlana Petriychuk, Evgenia Berkovich has been under arrest and jailed since May 2023 on charges of “public calls to terrorism”. On the ninth of January 2024, before the verdict was supposed to be announced, she read her final speech in verse.
 

Director: Anya Ryzhkova (Germany)

Anya (Anna) Ryzhkova is an independent animation artist and filmmaker. She was born in Kaliningrad in 1998. In 2007 she moved to Germany and grew up in Chemnitz. Since 2019 she is studying Media Art and Design at the Bauhaus University Weimar.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
“This poetry film grips you from the first, with its ironic, chilling tone. Juddering chalk drawings in primary colours create a discordant atmosphere akin to imprisonment, as courtroom noise permeates the background soundscape. The young Russian filmmaker and animator, Anya Ryzhkova has captured the subversive, insurrectionary atmosphere with her graffiti & typewriter-like fonts which stand out in size and intensity. It’s an important message. A wonderful piece of art.”

Ó Bhéal’s 12th Winter Warmer (and 4th hybrid) festival presented over 50 poets from seven countries. Most of the featured guests appeared in-person at Nano Nagle Place, with a few appearing virtually.

     
We are thrilled to announce the winners and shortlisted entries from Ó Bhéal’s 11th Five Words International Poetry Competition, judged by Theo Dorgan.

The 12th Five Words International Competition will commence at noon on Tuesday the 9th of April 2024, and will continue until the 28th of January 2025.

[L-R] Devjani Bodepudi, John Watson, Cathal Holden and Rosalin Blue

In August 2023 Ó Bhéal welcomed Coventry poets Devjani Bodepudi and John Watson for two readings at Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word as part of the twin cities exchange. Cathal Holden and Rosalin Blue represented Cork for a reciprocal visit and were hosted for two readings in Coventry during early November, also with a visit to the Lord Mayor, hosted by Ó Bhéal’s partner Here Comes Everyone / Fire & Dust. Reviews, images and links from each poet follow.