A film festival featuring short puppet films from artists around the world!

New York State Puppet Festival “Puppets on Film” Short Film Program, curated by Pilar McKay, adds to our live puppetry program by highlighting short films from puppeteers worldwide and in the United States. Films chosen for the first short film program ever at the festival challenge the conventional wisdom of what puppeteering on film can be. Prepare to see emerging puppetry and traditional techniques used to tell immersive and engaging stories. Films have been featured in international film festivals, and NYSPF is pleased to be bringing them to WNY!

Featured Artists and Films:

• Matthias Sahli and Immanuel Esser’s The Newt Congress (Part of the 2023 Sundance Short Film Program) (Switzerland/Germany)
• Emma Wiseman and Emily Zemba’s OOO (premiered at the 2020 New York State Puppet Festival at home virtual festival) (US)
• Sarah Finn’sOur bodies like dams (US)
• Raymond Carr’s Hitori (US)
• Shayna Stripe’s Our Mine (US)

• Manuel Del Valle’s El Triste (US)

Photo: The Newt Congress

Part of the New York State Puppet Festival 2024 collection