Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest brings the best of puppets on film to Newcastle.
The festival programme includes and celebrates live action puppet films as well as stop motion puppet animation. The Stop Motion Shorts Night has been a cornerstone event of the annual Newcastle Puppetry Festival since 2017, and in 2026 we were so excited to be able to expand this night into a stand-alone film festival. The film festival will now take place annually, running alongside our sister puppetry theatre festival, with the majority of events in both programmes taking place every April during the Easter Holidays.
All happening at Tyneside Cinema, the Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest programme includes:
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Feature films
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Double and triple bills
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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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Q&As and talks
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and of course the annual Puppetry & Stop Motion Shorts Night.
Calling all puppet filmmakers and stop motion puppet animators!
Applications are now open for the Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest 2027 short films competition.
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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Early bird deadline, July 31st 2026 : £5 per film
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Regular deadline, March 1st 2027: £10 per film
For any queries about applying please contact our Puppet Films Lead Lesley-anne Rose movingpartspuppetfilms@gmail.com
For more information, submission requirements and to apply via Film Freeway, click here or click the button below:
2026 Winners
Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest is a collaboration between Moving Parts Arts, Tyneside Cinema and Newcastle-based stop motion animator Lesley-anne Rose.
