Volume VII
Tuesday, November 8 at 7 pm
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Heather Henson curates this touring festival of short puppet films, which offers new editions annually.
Handmade Puppet Dreams showcases the fresh voices of independent puppeteers who embrace film to explore a spectrum of live-action puppetry styles. Volumes in the series have toured since 2005, screening throughout North America as well as in the Czech Republic, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Prague.
PuppHitz is the brainchild of local writer, theatre artist, and master puppeteer, Scott Hitz. This new organization will be the home of a puppet production company (PuppHitz Productions), a performance company (PuppHitz Puppets), and an education company (P.i.E. Puppets in Education). Scott will provide a brief intro to the screening and be on hand for a Q & A after the show.
Our presentation of Handmade Puppet Dreams Volume VII is specifically for “mature audiences,” but don’t miss the special program just for families at Cornell Cinema on Saturday, November 5th at 2 pm!
The Mill at Calder’s End | Directed by Kevin McTurk
Nicholas Grimshaw returns to the remote village of Calder’s End, intent on breaking an ancient family curse. The film utilizes 30 in tall bunraku-inspired puppets and traditional in-camera practical effects. Featuring the voices of Jason Flemyng (Snatch, The Missing) and horror legend Barbara Steele (Black Sunday, Fellini’s 8 ó).
Monster | Directed by Cecilia Gläsker, Germany
A girl seeks drastic measures from her abusive parents in this music video from the award-winning puppet group Half Past Selber Schuld
Ichabod: Sketches From Sleepy Hollow | directed by Hobey Ford, USA
This short puppet film by award winning puppeteer Hobey Ford opens a sketchbook of images and story based around Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Namahey | Directed by Marianne Mettes, Austrailia
The story about building something out of nothing, for love’s sake. It was created using 100% recycled materials. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle!
Melvin the Birder | Directed by Spencer Lott, USA
A short film about a loner who is obsessed with finding an elusive woodpecker. On his journey, Melvin discovers he shares many things in common with the woodpecker.
The Adventures of Liverwurst Girl | Directed by Martin P Robinson, USA
Transformed by her favorite liverwurst sandwiches, and unstopped by her boisterous clumsiness, she becomes the superhero Liverwurst Girl — sworn protector of bullied kids.
Baby That’s You | Directed by Alexander Vignaud & Delux, France
In this catchy music video for Delux, a couple go on a series of adventures trying to find each other.
Hitori | Directed by Raymond Carr, USA
In a world of made entirely of puppeteers, the puppet is always alone. Hitori is the story of a boy who’s just trying to get back to where he came from. Hitori uses live action table top puppetry, computer compositing and body movement artist to bring a world composed entirely of human puppeteers to live.
Sir Dance-a-Lot | Directed by Lana Schwarcz, Austrailia
A cute story of a Knight who saved the day, using not his sword, but classical ballet.
Heeep O Sheeep | Steven Ritz-Barr, USA
“Heeep O Sheeep” is an absurd, action-packed, irreverent short is based on the forth Beatitude of the Sermon on the Mount ‘And the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth’. A herd of sheep and butchers match wills. Intense climate change proves a most ardent foe to both species. Few are left to tell the tale.
Happy Memories | Jack Fields, USA
A cupcake is born to a loving mustachioed mother. As it embarks on its journey, it is exploited and tortured by a series of terrifying beings. It is torn from the parental pastry world, eviscerated by 12-dimensional Mathuloxes, and experimented on by a doctor of unknown powers. Will the cupcake be destroyed by torment, or metamorphose into something greater?
Table Manners | Rebecca Manley, England
Three creatures go in search of food in the woods but find that there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.
Lessons Learned | Toby Froud, USA
In this story, a boy is surprised by special treatment on this year’s annual birthday visit with his grandfather. Instead of the regular tea and cake fare, his grandfather presents an intriguing gift to the lad. When curiosity gets the best of him, the boy falls into an adventure of other-worldly experiences not intended for him.