E2: OBJECT, UNIVERSE & LIFE IN PERFORMANCE
Merlin Puppet Theatre
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SPACE SIX
Monday 8th - Tuesday 9th April 2019
10am - 5pm daily
Ages 18+ / adults
£120
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An approach to all three basic elements that contribute to making a complete visual universe - Object, Universe and Life. OBJECT - puppet, mask, shadows; UNIVERSE - scenography, light and sound; LIFE - how these elements become animate. An exploratory laboratory, which examines through analysis, practice and experimentations, how a harmonious puppetry performance is created. Through improvisations and research on stage individually and in groups, participants will work on how to develop and realise an idea, all the way from scratch to the final desirable result. See here for Merlin Puppet Theatre's show at the festival, "Noone's Land".
Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest - Brand new for 2026!
Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest brings the best of puppets on film to Newcastle!
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The festival line-up celebrates live action puppet films and stop-motion puppet animation from around the world, and includes feature films, talks, networking events, and a short film competition. Whether you like the warm fuzzy feeling of a Muppets movie; or to be thrown into the wild, fantastical worlds of marionettes on screen - there is something for everyone.
The Puppetry & Stop Motion Shorts Night has been a cornerstone event of the annual Newcastle Puppetry Festival since 2017. Brand new for 2026, Moving Parts Puppet Fest expands this night into a stand-alone film festival.
All happening at Tyneside Cinema, the Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest 2026 programme includes:
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Feature films, such as Muppets Treasure Island, Dark Crystal and Strings (more tbc!)
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An international short films competition for new work (applications open now!)
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Networking events for filmmakers
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Industry talks
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and of course the annual Puppetry & Stop Motion Shorts Night.
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Between 2017 - 2024 Moving Parts Arts ran stop motion animation commissions each year of the puppet festival. We have currently had to pause this artist opportunity due to funding cuts. However, any profits made from the Puppet Film Fest will go into a commissioning pot, which will hopefully mean that we can bring back this opportunity in future years.​
Calling all puppet filmmakers and stop motion puppet animators!
Applications are now open for the Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest​ short films competition.
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Award categories:
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Puppet Live Action Festival Winner - Best in competition
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Stop Motion Puppet Animation Festival Winner - Best in competition
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Unexpected Delight Award - A film unique in materials, process and storyline
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Plucky Underdog Award - Low budget film with lots of promise
Entry fees:
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Earlybird deadline, Feb 9th 2026 : £5 per film
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Regular deadline, March 20th 2026: £10 per film
For any queries about applying please contact our Puppet Films Lead Lesley-anne Rose movingpartspuppetfilms@gmail.com​
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For more information, submission requirements and to apply via Film Freeway, click here or click the button below:​​​​
Moving Parts Stop Motion Commission 2019: 'Logo Man Eats the Moon' by Chloe Rodham
Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest is a collaboration between Moving Parts Arts, Tyneside Cinema and Newcastle-based stop motion animator Lesley-anne Rose.
