VIDEOBARDO, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 2025: visual and verbal experiment at its best
VideoBardo, with Director Javier Robledo, is a firm favourite of mine, since it was the first videopoetry festival I submitted to, way back in 2008 (and even 2006) and is one of the most experimental (with visual and verbal poetry). After showing there twice I was invited to give a talk in November 2012 at Por La Tierra (For the earth) (see earlier post – sarah-tremlett-invited-to-videobardo-symposium-for-the-earth-buenos-aires). This year there were 5 locations, one being Instants Festival in Marseille on the 19th of October, and on the 25th of October, and the 3rd and the 7th of November events took place at different locations in Argentina. Coming up on the 17th at the National Library of Buenos Aires is the videopoetry section. https://videobardo1.wixsite.com/my-site-1/copia-de-inicio
Alongside other poetic presentations and the launch of the publication Imágenes del Bardo by Javier Robledo himself, there are just two videopoetry sections: Argentinian Videopoetry (11 artists) and International videopoets (19). I think this focused concentration of films works very well for the audience and the festival and the artists involved. I am also honoured to say that among a fine selection of talented artists, my film Nocturne for a Lighterman / Nocturno para un launchero, is being shown, too. I wish I could be there. Being invited to present at VideoBardo in 2012 remains one of my most significant videopoetry memories.
One of the Argentinian videopoems: Alegria (Joy) by Julieta Tetelbaum, is a performative piece that has garnered many awards worldwide. Expressing a wide emotional landscape, this film is described as ‘a journey through the mind of a 65-year-old autistic lesbian who’s addicted to sugar and can’t stop thinking about her ex-girlfriend from youth.’ Being hooked and needing love and affection as well as joy are centre stage in this wonderful work.
Although most of the festival has passed, fortunately for us, the 3rd November event is also on YouTube. Here, Javier Robledo introduces himself, actor Gabriel Espinosa and journalist José María Martinez reciting poetry from a small boat in the Paraná Delta, Argentina. This is a perfect, relaxing invitation to enjoy Argentinian poetry, and also practice Spanish at the same time. See this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ERR1TatUq8
Gabriel Espinosa, actor
