Puppets in Motion: From Bochum to the World
News, Initiatives, and Invitations from the German Puppetry Scene
The Deutsches Forum für Figurentheater und Puppenspielkunst (dfp) has just released their summer newsletter — and it’s packed with updates and opportunities that may be of interest to UNIMA UK members and the broader puppetry community. Below are the highlights most relevant to our international network.
🎭 Fritz-Wortelmann-Preis 2025: Programme Announced
Bochum’s long-standing puppetry competition returns from 18–21 September 2025 with 18 diverse productions across all forms of puppet, object, and shadow theatre — from classic adaptations like The Tempest to explorations of mental health and posthuman lifeforms.
👉 Programme available online | Free tickets from 18 August email karten@fidena.de
Open Call: Research Café via Zoom
11 August, 17:30–19:30 CEST
An open invitation to join a digital research meet-up to explore the dfp puppet collection and discuss working methods in puppetry research. Bring your questions, ideas, and curiosity.
The Zoom link will be announced in due course.
Registration and questions via email to annie.eckert@komplexx-figurentheater.de
👉 Registration via website
🌍 KompleXXplorer: Add Your Profile to Germany’s New Puppetry Map
An interactive, participative platform showcasing puppetry professionals, venues, educators, researchers, and organisations across Germany.
More info
Deadline to migrate data: 31 December 2025
Leadership Change at the dfp
After 28 years, Annette Dabs has stepped down. The dfp is now led jointly by Helene Ewert (Managing Director) and Christofer Schmidt (Artistic Director), with a commitment to openness, sustainability, and international collaboration.
More info
Puppetry & Democracy: UNIMA Germany Conference
15–24 August 2025, Northeim
The 9th German Figurentheater Conference focuses on puppetry and democracy, featuring the festival “Mit Hand und Fuß”, symposiums, artistic labs, and working sessions.
Organised by UNIMA Germany, VDP, and Theater der Nacht.
👉 Info available on their website
Call for Puppetry Films: Celluloid Golem Festival
The international puppet-art film festival by halfpastselberschuld in Düsseldorf is calling for short films and artworks for its 2026 edition.
Submission deadline: December 2025
Festival dates: 7–10 May 2026
Apply here