British UNIMA proudly sponsors the 2026 Puppet Place 48
Challenge Weekend: 11, 12 & 13 September 2026 · Finale: Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 7.30pm BST, Bristol & Online (Proudly supported by the British Puppet Guild, British UNIMA, and TIPA)
British UNIMA is proud to be sponsoring the Best International Film or Film by a BrUNIMA member Award at the Puppet Place 48 again in 2026.
People of all ages and backgrounds, beginners to professionals are welcome to take in the Puppet Place 48.
Create an original puppetry film this September in just 48 hours! Use the three designated prompts (ACTION – ITEM – THEME) as a starting point, then let your imagination run wild. Entries will be shown at our Online Film Festival, 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 Puppet Guild, British UNIMA and The Beijing Puppet Festival!
The Film Challenge Weekend 2026
11, 12 & 13 September 2026
The Film Challenge will begin at 7pm (BST) on Friday 11 September 2026, when we will announce the three Challenge prompts following the format of ACTION – ITEM – THEME.
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 13 September 2026.
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! Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 7.30pm BST. BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
For TIPA info head to our TIPA (The Inclusive Puppetry Alliance Category) Everyone loves a challenge, but not everyone can participate in an event with such tight time restrictions. Puppet Place 48 have been working with the Broken Puppet Theatre Company to develop this category so that anyone with a passion for puppets can participate, regardless of access barriers.
TIPA has been developed for participants with chronic illness, disability or who are neurodivergent. Its for people who cant participate in the traditional challenge.
Registration is open!
Puppet Place 48 – REGISTER HERE
Awards & Prizes
🏆 1st Place - Opportunity for a residency at the Beijing Puppetry festival 2027
Puppet Place Associate Artist membership
More TBA
🏆 2nd Place TBA and Puppet Place Associate Artist membership
🏆 3rd Place, TBA, Puppet Place Associate Artist membership
🏆Top 10, Screened at the Finale
🏆Best of Under 15’s, A Professional Puppet
🏆 Best of 16-21, Mentorship with a Puppetry Professional, Puppet Place Associate Artist membership
🏆 The Inclusive Puppetry Alliance Award (TIPA), Puppet Place Associate Artist Membership, More TBA
🏆The British Puppetry Guild Award, TBA
🏆 BrUNIMA Award (Best International Film or film by a BrUNIMA Member), £100
🏆Honourable Mentions, Screened at the Finale
🏆 Puppetry Award, Medal
🏆 Best of Bristol, TBA
🏆 Participant Choice Award
🏆 Audience Choice Award
All event information, rules, FAQs, and guidance can be found on the official Puppet Place 48 website:
👉 bristol48hpuppetfilmchallenge.co.uk
You can view all the films from 2025 in the link below, scroll on to 5.24
About the Puppet Place 48
Formerly known as the Bristol 48h Puppet Film Challenge, the Puppet Place 48 is an international sprint to create a brand new puppetry film in just 48 hours. Artists of all ages and backgrounds — beginners to professionals — are invited to take part.
The event is organised and hosted by Puppet Place and led by Cat Rock. Since its beginnings in 2020, the challenge has inspired over 200 original puppet films from across the globe, celebrating imagination, collaboration, and the joy of puppetry on screen.
The International Element (Sponsored by British UNIMA)
As part of our mission to strengthen international exchange and visibility in puppetry, British UNIMA is sponsoring a new International Award in the 2026 Challenge.
By welcoming both international artists and our UNIMA community, we hope to celebrate puppetry voices across borders and highlight the global nature of our artform.
This is the first year of this award — in future years we hope to grow and refine it, exploring options. For now, our focus is on shining a spotlight on international creativity and the global puppetry family.
The Inclusive Puppetry Alliance Award (TIPA)
Not everyone can take part in a high-pressure 48-hour challenge — which is why the TIPA category exists. Developed with the Broken Puppet Theatre Company, TIPA makes the Challenge accessible to participants with chronic illness, disability, or who are neurodivergent.
TIPA begins: Thursday 14 August 2025 (participants receive prompts from this date)
Participants still have 48 hours to create their film, but those hours can be spread flexibly across a month, adapting the challenge to individual access needs.
👉 More details and FAQs: Broken Puppet Theatre Company – Inclusive Puppetry Alliance
How It Works
Prompts announced: 7pm BST, Friday 11 September (ACTION – ITEM – THEME).
Make your film: 48 hours to devise, film, edit, and score your entry.
Submit by: 7pm BST, Sunday 13 September 2025.
Screening: All films featured in the Online Festival.
Finale: Winners revealed at the live & online screening
🏆Awards & Recognition🏆
British UNIMA International Award
Celebrates global puppetry voices and international collaboration.
Open to all international entries, as well as British UNIMA members.
Includes £100 prize money
Sponsors
British Puppet Guild (lead sponsor)
British UNIMA (International category sponsor)
TIPA (The Inclusive Puppetry Alliance)
Registration
Registration is open now via FilmFreeway. Set up your profile early and allow at least one hour for uploading before the submission deadline.
👉 Register for Puppet Place 48 on FilmFreeway
Final Reminder — Save the Date!
📅 Finale Screening & Awards
Sunday 19 October 2025, 6pm
Live: The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol
Online: YouTube livestream (details TBA)