about us
A part of Heather Henson's Ibex Puppetry, Handmade Puppet Dreams is a traveling film series that promotes independent artists exploring their handmade craft specifically for the screen. These films all focus on real-time puppetry, and allow artists to build their vision, and then breathe life into their dreams.
Founded in 2004, Handmade Puppet Dreams now includes seven main volumes of films, two volumes for families, and many unique collections. With this series, Heather Henson (along with Alex U. Griffin, Jessica Simon as the Micro-Commission Coordinator, and formerly Sam Koji Hale as Producer) have set out to showcase a new generation of puppeteers and puppet artists who embrace film as a medium for artistic expression.
how do we get our films?
We have two types of films within Handmade Puppet Dreams; commissioned films, and collected films. Each serve their own purpose within our mission and goals to promote real-time-performed puppetry on film.
Commissioned films
Films that have received funding from Handmade Puppet Dreams by way of our parent company, the non-profit organization Green Feather Foundation (previously Ibex Puppetry). Due to limited resources there is not "open call" for submissions. Rather, folks are encouraged to inquire or come as recommendations from outside organizations, programs, and events. Some of our commissioned filmmakers create the films entirely with the funding received, while others use it as a base for further funding.
Examples of our traditional commissioned films include Yamasong, Lessons Learned, and Melvin the Birder.
In response to the pandemic in 2020 we introduced Micro-Commissioned films, which are meant to be made with limited resources, ideally at home or within a pandemic safe bubble. Due to pandemic-related delays in our full commissioned films from 2019 and 2020, we are only providing Micro-Commission funding for new films in 2021.
Examples of our Micro-Commissioned films include titles such as Marianne's Onion, Cone of Shame, and Goodnight Shadow.
Collected films
These are films that have either been discovered through outside festivals, events, recommendations, or have been submitted by the filmmaker and chosen for potential inclusion in our “Volume” collections.
Examples of our collected films include Old Mother Hubbard (dir. Paul Andrejico), The Whole World and You (dir. Frankie Cordero), and Graveyard Jamboree (Screen Novelties).
Who is Handmade Puppet Dreams?
ADDITIONAL "DREAM TEAM" MEMBERS
DREAM TEAM MEMBERS OF HANDMADE PAST
SAM KOJI HALE | Director, Volume Curator, and Producer
Director - Yamasong
Volume V & VI Curator, Volume VII Co-Curator
Overseeing Producer - Handmade Puppet Dreams Film Series, 2010-2020
Short Film Producer - The Narrative of Victor Karloch, Hitori, Lessons Learned, Melvin the Birder, Ichabod: Sketches from Sleepy Hollow, Nature Calls, Amaterasu, The Legend of Rasputin, Yo Soy Taino, Bunny Love, Cosmic Fling
MARSIAN DE LELLIS | Volume IV Curator
JESSICA SIMON | Micro-Commission Production Associate
ANGELICA ROBINSON | Line Producer, HPD Collections