HANDMADE PUPPET DREAMS brings together a rare assortment of puppet film shorts by independent artists exploring their handmade craft specifically for the camera. Just as Jim Henson advanced the art of puppets-on-film in the 20th century, Heather Henson showcases a new generation of puppeteers who embrace film as a medium for their individual expressions. With films that focus primarily on real-time performed puppetry, Handmade Puppet Dreams runs the gamut from marionettes to finger puppets to paper cutouts; each artist articulating their own unique approach to animation and film.

"Sammy & Sofa" Tim Lagasse & Jim Napolitano (2005)
An eight inch tall mohawked psychic and his pet sofa are the brainchild of UNIMA award-winning puppet artists Tim Lagasse and Jim "Nappy" Napolitano, "Sammy and Sofa" was initially conceived for performance at late night Puppet Slams, and was developed in front of the live audiences.

"Prelude # 2" Hoku Uchiyama (2003)
A visual collage of hand and shadow puppetry mixed with flesh and blood actors are enlisted to play the parts of two drunken teens on a frightening drive homeward.

"The Red Book" Janie Geiser (1994)
Obie and Guggenheim-winning filmmaker/puppeteer Janie Geiser explores the realms of memory, language, and identity from the point of view of a woman amnesiac, and reaches back into dismemberment myths about the creation of different tongues through the breaking apart of bodies.

"Last Rites" Paul Andrejco (1997)
Paul Andrejco's first grade teacher dukes it out with Satan Himself in the grudge match of the millennium—who will win all of the lost souls in the universe?

"Ola's Box of Clovers" Genevieve Anderson (2004)*
Gorgeous rod puppets and lush scenery tell of one girl's journey to understand her grandmother's unfulfilled dreams.

"Everloving" Steve Johnson (2003)
Inspired by the paintings of Beksinski and the music of Moby, Hollywood special effects wizard Steve Johnson (Spiderman 2, Scooby Doo, The Cat in the /hat, etc.) shot this film underwater at double speed in reverse, and then puppeted the characters were upside down.

"Herd" Mike Mitchell (1998)
A lowly fry cook becomes the unwitting accomplice to an alien who instructs him to build a nefarious mysterious black box in this film by this Shrek/SpongeBob/Ren & Stimpy screenwriter.

"Mother Hubbard" Paul Andrejco (1996)*
Disney/Henson veteran Paul Andrejco presents a new spin on the old story of a bare-cupboarded woman who has no food, no money and no clue how to deal with her eccentric little dog.

"The Amazing, Mysterious, & True Story of Mary Anning & Her Monsters" Laura Heit (2003)*
Puppet master Laura Heit tells the true story of daring woman whose love for monsters would change more than she bargained for.

"Popsicle" Mike Mitchell & Dan Brown (2002)*
A filmmakers' portrayal of pop band The Starlight Mints as puppets in a music video.

"Graveyard Jamboree with Mysterious Mose" Seamus Walsh & Mark Caballero (1999)*
Cartoon Network animators Walsh and Caballero turn an old record by Harry Reser and his Radio All-Star Novelty Orchestra into a wild montage of live action puppetry, silhouettes and stop motion animation.

*Films marked with an asterisk were featured in the kids' program as well. (See below).

Vist the Handmade Puppet Dreams website here.
Hear and see Maple Rabbit here.