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The Last Doll Lady

In the 1950s a program called Dolls for Democracy was started. Women known as "doll ladies" would travel to local schools and teach children, through the use of hand carved wooden character dolls, about why racism and intolerance is wrong. Over the decades the program has faded into obscurity, but one woman has made it her life's mission to reignite a nations passion for the programs hopeful message. Selma Bukstein was one of the original doll ladies, now 60 years later and at the age of 91, she's the last doll lady.

The Last Doll Lady follows Selma's efforts to revitalize the program and pass on its legacy to a new generation.

Tagline: A free educational program ignited a 60 year passion for her. At 91, she's hoping to pass on its legacy to a younger generation before it's too late

  • Taryn Hough
    Director/Writer/Editor/Producer/Cinematographer
  • Selma Bukstein
    lead actor (as herself)
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 8, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Mentone Film Festival
    Mentone, CA
    November 13, 2019
    The Or Baker Award
  • Adirondack Film Festival
    Glen Falls, NY
  • Engunity Film Festival
    Las Vegas, NV
    nominated: Best Short Doc
  • The NewsFest
    Las Vegas, NV
    Best Human Interest Story
  • A.M.M.I.F. 2019
    Las Vegas, NV
  • The Georgia Documentary Film Festival
    Atlanta
    Georgia Premiere
    nominated: best director
  • Hollywood Women's Film Institute: Hollywood women's Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    June 18, 2019
  • Show Low Film Festival
    Show Low, Az
    Arizona Premiere
    Best Short Documentary
  • Redline International Film Festival
    Toronto, Canada
    March 15, 2019
    Canadian Premiere
    Nominated for Best Documentary Short
  • Short.Sweet. Film Fest
    Cleveland, Ohio
    March 2, 2019
  • PA Indie Shorts Film Festival
    Stroudsburg, PA
    December 9, 2018
    Nominated for Best Short Documentary
  • Marina Del Rey
    Culver city, Ca
    October 17, 2018
  • The Cutting Room International Short Film Festival
    Manhattan, New York
    October 20, 2018
    New York Premiere
    Nominated for Best Documentary
  • EyeCatcher Film Festival
    McAlester, Oklahoma
    November 9, 2018
    Nominated: Best Short Documentary
  • Female Filmmaker Fuse Film Festival
    Pasadena
    United States
    November 2, 2018
    Best Documentary
  • Lonely Seal Film Festival
    Boston, MA
    October 6, 2018
    Massachusetts Premiere
  • Rendezvous Film Festival
    Amelia Island, Florida
    September 20, 2018
    Florida Premiere
  • Silver State Film Festival
    Las Vegas, NV
    September 7, 2018
  • The Indie Gathering Film Festival
    Hudson, Ohio
    United States
    August 11, 2018
    Ohio Premiere
    Won 2nd place for Best Short Documentary
  • Lionshead Film Festival
    San Antonio, TX
    August 11, 2018
    Texas Premiere
    Best Short Documentary
  • Low to No International Film Festival
    Las Vegas, NV
    August 18, 2018
    Won Best Director of a Documentary, and The Adler Award for a Documentary
  • FLY Film Festival
    Enid, Oklahoma
    United States
    August 10, 2018
    Nominated for Best Documentary
  • Hollywood Dreamz Film Festival
    Las Vegas, NV
    August 18, 2018
    Nominated for Best Political Documentary
  • Silicon Beach Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    April 29, 2018
    Won the award for Best Inspirational Short Documentary
  • Media Film Festival
    Media, Pennsylvania
    United States
    April 7, 2018
    Pennsylvania premiere
  • Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival
    Muskogee, Oklahoma
    United States
    April 28, 2018
    Won the award for Best Documentary Short
  • Las Cruces International Film Festival
    Las Cruces, New Mexico
    March 4, 2018
    New Mexico Premiere
  • docLAHOMA Film Festival
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    United States
    January 14, 2018
    Oklahoma Premiere
  • Culver City Film Festival
    Culver City, CA
    United States
    December 9, 2017
    Southern California Premiere
    Won the Audience Award Documentary
  • Big Water Film Festival
    Ashland, WI
    United States
    November 11, 2017
    Wisconsin Premiere
  • Action on Film Festival
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    United States
    August 19, 2017
    Las Vegas Premiere
    Runner Up, Best Documentary Short
  • Shortz! Film Festival
    Chico, Ca
    United States
    July 15, 2017
    California Premiere
  • Marquee on Main
    Washington, North Carolina
    United States
    Finalist
  • Highway 61 Film Festival
    Pine City, MN
    United States
    Semi-Finalist
  • Miami Independent Film Festival
    Miami, Florida
    United States
    July monthly edition
Director Biography

Taryn Hough was born and raised in Southern California. Her love for cinema started at a young age, when her mother would take her to the movies every weekend, which sometimes resulted in seeing not so age appropriate films. Taryn's love for documentaries started in Jr High when she saw "American Movie" for the first time. Taryn has worked in front of and behind the camera for over 10 years. Her style of documentary filmmaking is "Observational Cinema". The Last Doll Lady is not Taryns' first film, but it is her first documentary and she hopes you enjoy it.

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