Can you make a Puppet Film?
Can you do it in 48 hours?
Challenge accepted!

We are asking people of all ages and backgrounds, beginners to professionals to take on the 48 Hour Puppet Film Challenge. Create an original puppetry film this September in just 48 hours! Use our three designated prompts (which will be announced at 7pm (BST) on Friday 13th September 2024 and will follow the format of ACTION – ITEM – THEME) as a starting point, then let your imagination run wild. Entries will be shown at our Online Film Festival (dates TBC), with an award ceremony where a panel of Judges will pick the winners of our categories. Get creative, have fun and see what you can do with puppetry. This year we are proud to be sponsored by the British Puppetry Guild!

2024 Details

You must register to take part in the Challenge before it starts.
https://www.bristol48hpuppetfilmchallenge.co.uk/the-challenge

The Film Challenge Weekend 2024

The Film Challenge will begin at 7pm (BST) on Friday 13th September 2024
when we will announce the three Challenge prompts following the format of ACTION – ITEM – THEME. You MUST include these prompts in your film.

The timer is set and you then have 48 hours to devise, make, film, edit, score and submit your puppet film.

The Submission deadline is 7pm (BST) on Sunday 15th September 2024.

If you submit you film late it will NOT be eligible for judging and awards (see FAQ).

The submissions are then reviewed and the Judges will pick the winners.

All films entered will be featured in our Online Film Festival Screening, ending with the Finale where winners will be announced!

Finale Live and online - 7pm (BST) Sunday 13th October
Live venue - The Wardrobe Theatre, 25 West St, Bristol BS2 0DF

The Challenge is free to enter, however we ask if you are able to donate to Puppet Place. these donations help cover the running cost of the Challenge and will allow us run it again in the future. Suggested donation is £5.48 per participant, by any amount helps. if you can please add 0.48 to the donation so we know its a donation for the 48h challenge!

Donate here
https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3125064

1st
£150
British Puppet Guild Membership
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

2nd
British Puppet Guild Membership
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

3rd
British Puppet Guild Membership
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

Top 10
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

The British Puppet Guild Award
£100

Under 15’s
A Puppet made by a Puppet Things

16-21
A mentorship consultation a member of the British Puppetry Guild.
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

TIPA
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

Best Puppetry
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

Best of Bristol
4 tickets (including a Planetarium show) to "We the Curious"
a Gift Voucher for the Wardrobe Theatre
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership
A personal tour of Puppet Place

Honorable mentions
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership

The Rules

The primary focus of your film must be physical puppetry.

Individuals/teams must register for the Film Challenge in advance.

All films entered must be original and made over the Film Challenge Weekend 2024 (13/09/24-15/09/24).
The Inclusive Puppetry Alliance Category (TIPA) participants see TIPA rules below.

Entries must include the Film Challenge prompts which will follow the format of item-action-theme (these will be confirmed at 7pm (BST) on Friday 13th September 2024. (TIPA participants see TIPA rules below).

All films must include a TITLE CARD and CREDITS.

All films must state in “Made for the Bristol 48h Puppet Film Challenge 2024”

Maximum film length is 3 minutes. This time INCLUDES TITLE CARD and CREDITS.

You must use royalty free or original music. We can’t play films with copyrighted music!

The use of premade puppets is allowed, but we do encourage original builds.

Film Challenge films must still be submitted though FilmFreeway by the deadline of 7pm (BST) on Sunday 15th September 2024.

Submission deadline is 7pm (BST) on Sunday 15th September 2024.

Age Awards – To qualify for these additional awards at least one team member must fall in one of the two age categories – Under 15 and 16 to 21 year olds – and they must play a big part of the creative process. These are extra awards to highlight these age groups. All films submitted into the age categories will automatically be entered into the main Challenge as well.

Best of Bristol – To qualify you have had a BS or Bristol based postcode.

The British Puppet Guild Award - To qualify you must be a member of the British Puppet Guild, names will be check against their registry.

The Inclusive Puppetry Alliance Category (TIPA) Rules

Follow the same rules as above except these changes

All films entered must be original and made over the TIPA Category allotted time of the 13th August – 15th September 2024

Entries must include the Film Challenge prompts which will follow the format of item-action-theme (these will be confirmed at 7pm (BST) on the 13th August 2024). PLEASE NOTE: The TIPA prompts will be different from the main challenge prompts.

Participant must only spend a total of 48 hours on their film over the categories' duration.

TIPA films must still be submitted though FilmFreeway by the deadline of 7pm (BST) on Sunday 15th September 2024.

Participants must pre register for the TIPA category by Tuesday 27th AUG (BST)

Terms & Conditions
By Submitting a film to the Bristol 48h Puppet Film Challenge you agree to the following Terms & Conditions:

You give Puppet Place and the Bristol 48h Puppet Film Challenge the right to use your submitted film in all future screenings, promotion/advertising/marketing and fundraising events related to the Film Challenge and Puppet Place.

By submitting a film you agree and adhere to the main Film Challenge Rules (see above). Films that do not comply with the rules, will be disqualified and not shown.

Puppet Place/The Bristol 48h Puppet Film Challenge has the right to refuse any film if it is deemed inappropriate (see below).

The Film Challenge will not tolerate any form of online or in person hate, abuse, harassment and mistreatment of its participants, viewers and organisers. If anyone goes against our inclusive and supportive ethos then that person/film/group will be disqualified from the Film Challenge and blocked from online platforms and in person venues. Be nice folks!

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • George Garry

    Such an amazing experience from start to finish, being able to push myself to make a puppet film in 48 hours! Incredible exposure to the community, and great feedback from industry judges

    October 2024
  • Simon Gurr

    This is our second year entering the Bristol 48h Puppet Film Challenge and everything that was so wonderful last year is still in place: the amazing friendly enthusiasm and energy from the organisers,the tried and tested organisation of the challenge, and also the attention to detail and great comms from Cat and the team

    September 2024
  • Dawn Cardin

    Great festival, super fun if not slightly stressful weekend for the creators but great live finale.

    October 2023
  • Really great little competition. So many great ideas and different types of storytelling. Speaking as a solo film maker, I wonder if there is a place for a solo project award? I love that there are awards for younger film makers. Will definitely enter again!

    November 2022
  • Arril Johnson

    Nicely organised, family friendly, and fun ...

    September 2021