The circus is coming! The circus is coming! A bright, raucous melee of short acts governed by a brass band, addressing the heart of the current moment with diverse puppetry styles and spanning many moods, from slapstick to the sublime.

A 1981 near life-size Bunraku puppet film based on Chikamatsu's 17th century sewamono play of the same name. Director Midori Kurisaki convinced Japanese Living National Treasure puppeteers to let her take their puppets outdoors for live action filming outside the traditional Bunraku theatre – the first time anyone had filmed such a performance in outdoor scenery.

Puppet film series co-presented by Detroit Puppet Company and Cinema Lamont.

A handmade stop-motion fairy tale for adults that tells the tale of the struggle between the aristocratic Mice and the rustic Creatures Who Dwell Under the Oak over the doll of their heart's desire.

Puppet film series co-presented by Detroit Puppet Company and Cinema Lamont.

A talented stop-motion animator becomes consumed by the grotesque world of her horrifying creations -- with deadly results.

Puppet film series co-presented by Detroit Puppet Company and Cinema Lamont.

A puppet show for ages 5 and up that explores stories of contemporary American heroes to illustrate how the power of words and libraries have inspired change in the world, empowered others and increased equality for Black Americans.

Great for all ages. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blanket, as well as sunscreen.

An informal memorial and screening of works by late company member Oliver Pookrum. All are welcome.

A special curation of puppet film shorts set to poetry or poetic themes! Films include: ‘Multitudes’ (2019) and ‘We Real Cool’ (2017) by Manual Cinema, among others!

‘The Science of Sleep’ (2006) is a surrealistic science fantasy comedy film written and directed by Michel Gondry. Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte Gainsbourg, the film stems from a bedtime story written by Sam Mounier, then 10 years old, about a man whose attempts to share his increasingly vivid dream worlds with a beautiful neighbor envelopes them both in chaos and visual poetry. Described as “Mr. Gondry’s plausible case that a love story cannot be told any other way.”

Puppet film series co-presented by Detroit Puppet Company and Cinema Lamont.

Unheedful of his master’s warnings, ace acupuncturist and martial arts apprentice Su Huan-jen decides to treat Yu Lin, the ailing Lord of the Five Mountains, only to find himself at the centre of a deadly palace intrigue. In his attempts to extricate himself from a serious accusation, Su discovers that destiny has much bigger plans for him. 

Chris Huang Wen-chang’s ‘Demigod: The Legend Begins’ is a baroque puppet animation wuxia epic that synthesizes traditional and modern storytelling techniques to sumptuous effect, creating an eye-popping, breathtaking world of kinetic action and bloody violence that bring to life Taiwanese traditional glove puppet theatre.

The Puppet Film Series is co-presented by Detroit Puppet Company and Cinema Lamont.

Created for the theater in 1998, Basil Twist’s now-legendary underwater puppet production Symphonie Fantastique was set to the score of composer Hector Berlioz’s signature work, and was performed in a 1,000-gallon glass fish tank in which seven unseen puppeteers manipulate hundreds of fabrics, feathers, forms, plastics, colors, shapes, mylar, etc. Swirling through water and light. The Symphonie Fantastique film weaves together the compelling imagery of Berlioz’s score performed live by Christopher O’Riley and the unseen backstage “ballet” of the puppeteers as they work their magic.

The Puppet Film Series is co-presented by Detroit Puppet Company and Cinema Lamont.