Crane Creations Theatre Company

Puppet Festival in Canada Application Call

We are looking for creative and engaging puppet shows

Deadline: September 20th, 2022

Bridges Festival organized by Crane Creations Theatre Company in Mississauga, Ontario invites puppeteers and puppet theatres to send their shows in for consideration for Bridges Festival 2024. Bridges Festival presents Canadian and international puppet shows, for adults and children, of at least 30 minutes in length. For us, animation is expressed in various forms of moving/animating inanimate objects. These forms include puppetry, automata, stop-motion animation, film and digital animation and robotics.  We celebrate traditional and new forms of puppetry, while expanding the conversation of what is puppetry and animation and how it touches contemporary world. 

To apply please fill out the form below and provide the following:

APPLY
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FAQ’S

What Types of Shows Does Bridges Festival Present? 

Bridges Festival presents Canadian and international puppet shows, for adults and children, of at least 30 minutes in length. Bridges Festival is attended by families and parents with young children. We are interested in all forms of puppetry, including traditional forms as well as innovation in puppetry that employs the use of robotics, AR, and technology.  

Does The Festival Happen Online or In Person?  

Bridges Festival has online and in person events in Mississauga. 

Does Bridges Festival Present International Shows?  

Yes! Bridges Festival is an International puppetry festival! We present puppetry from across Canada and around the world.

How Do I Submit My Show for the Bridges Festival?

Each Year we hold an annual submission call, where you can submit your work on our website. 

When Do You Accept Show Submissions? 

We hold annual submissions typically in the Spring/Summer, following the Festival. We program shows two to three years in advance. So for example, to apply for Bridges Festival 2024, submission would open in 2022. Follow Us on Facebook to keep up to date on when our submission call happens, and check our website. 

How are shows selected? 

Shows are selected by a panel of jurors. We select a panel of jurors each year, that are diverse, and represent demographics of Mississauga, Canada. Juries consist of puppetry experts, professional puppeteers who have attended, presented at, and have previously sat on juries of international puppetry festivals. Jurors nominate shows to be presented at Bridges Festival based on evaluation criteria they are provided.

When will I know if my show has been selected for Bridges Festival? 

We always try to notify all applicants as soon as possible. However we cannot always control how early this will be. Typically applicants are notified a year to six months before the opening of a festival. 

Can I submit more than one show? 

Yes. You can submit as many shows as you like.

If there is speaking in my show, does it need to be in English? 

Your show does not have to be in English, however, we ask that you provide English surtitles. Mississauga is a diverse city filled with people that speak many different languages. English is used most often. However, we have featured shows in other languages including French, Spanish, and Malaysian. 

If my show was not selected for the previous Bridges Festival, can I re-apply? 

There is no need. We consider submissions of a show for several upcoming years of Bridges Festival.

Does Bridges Festival Pay Me for My Show? 

Yes. The Festival provides a presentation fee and accommodation. We do not cover travel expenses. We can assist with grant applications to cover travel costs as needed.

Does Bridges Festival Cover Travel Expenses? 

Selected Shows will be responsible for travel expenses. We do not cover travel expenses. We can assist with grant applications to cover travel costs as needed. 

Are you interested in presenting a puppet show at Bridges Festival?

Bridges Festival organized by Crane Creations Theatre Company in Mississauga, Ontario invites puppeteers and puppet theatres to send their shows in for consideration for annual Bridges Festival held in March. Bridges Festival presents Canadian and international puppet shows, for adults and children, of at least 30 minutes in length. For us, object animation is expressed in various forms of moving/animating inanimate objects. These forms include puppetry, automata, stop-motion animation, film, digital animation and robotics.  We celebrate traditional and new forms of puppetry, while expanding the conversation surrounding “What are puppetry and animation?” and “How do they affect the contemporary world?”.

We open up submissions each year. If you would like to submit your show for our upcoming Festival, check our website to see if applications are open, or sign up to receive notifications about next year’s festival. 

Are you a professional puppeteer? There is more than one way to get involved in Bridges Festival…join a panel, participate in our annual puppet slam, or be a jury member. 

Our application process for Bridges 2022 has officially closed, but we want to stay in touch.

Even if our applications are closed, our doors to talk are always open. What does that mean? It means you can always reach out to us here.

Bridges Festival organized by Crane Creations Theatre Company in Mississauga, Ontario invites puppeteers and puppet theatres to send their shows in for consideration for annual Bridges Festival held in March. Bridges Festival presents Canadian and international puppet shows, for adults and children, of at least 30 minutes in length. For us, object animation is expressed in various forms of moving/animating inanimate objects. These forms include puppetry, automata, stop-motion animation, film, digital animation and robotics.  We celebrate traditional and new forms of puppetry, while expanding the conversation surrounding “What are puppetry and animation?” and “How do they affect the contemporary world?”.

We open up submissions each year.  Follow us to find out when applications are open, or email us.  

Are you a professional puppeteer? There is more than one way to get involved in Bridges Festival…join a panel, participate in our annual puppet slam, or be a jury member.

Participate in Our Puppet Slam

Interested in participating in our Puppet Slam? Each Year Bridges Festival hosts a puppet slam, where puppeteers can showcase completed short form puppet shows or works in progress.

What’s a Puppet Slam? Creative folks, who like to experiment with puppetry, try new things, and have fun with puppets, will share their short stories & creations with you! This is a fun relaxed environment to meet with fellow puppeteers, share your work, and get creative. 

To apply please fill out the form below and provide the following:

  1. A short description of the performance you would like us to present
  2. Artistic Example: A link to a trailer, recording of your show, or artistic example of your previous work (password protected, will not be shared with the public)
  3. A short description of the company
  4. A short description of your team
  5. Duration of the Show 

Other Puppet Festivals in Canada

Bridges Festival - Crane Creations Theatre Company
Bridges Festival - Crane Creations Theatre Company
Bridges Festival - Crane Creations Theatre Company
Bridges Festival - Crane Creations Theatre Company
Bridges Festival - Crane Creations Theatre Company

Festival Pictures

land acknowledgement

Crane Creations acknowledges that the land on which we are grateful to work, and which the Region of Peel operates on, is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Michi Saagiig, commonly referred to as the Mississauga First Nations. We acknowledge the territory of the Anishinabek, Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Ojibwe peoples, as well as all caretakers of this land acknowledged and unacknowledged, recorded and unrecorded, and past, present, and future.

Logo of Canadian government, supporters of Activities in Mississauga, puppet show: Canada written in black with a Canadian flag on top of the last A, theatre tickets coming soon
Logo of our partner Port Credit BIA: Port is written in red, and C,r,e and d are written in grey, the i and t at the end are in red. Explore is written underneath in red, reminding patrons to support live theatre
Logo of our funder the ontario government: Ontario written in black and an icon representing a trillium flower in white on a black background, supporters of Activities in Mississauga and puppet show, Theatre tickets coming soon
  • 2021 Crane Creations
Logo of Canadian government, supporters of Activities in Mississauga, puppet show: Canada written in black with a Canadian flag on top of the last A, theatre tickets coming soon
Plays Of Ivan Cankar - Crane Creations Theatre Company
City of Mississauga logo: Mississauga symbol in blue, with Mississauga written in blue under the symbol, supporters of Crane Creations Theatre Company and puppet show, Theatre tickets coming soon
Logo of our partner Port Credit BIA: Port is written in red, and C,r,e and d are written in grey, the i and t at the end are in red. Explore is written underneath in red, reminding patrons to support live theatre
Logo of our funder the ontario government: Ontario written in black and an icon representing a trillium flower in white on a black background, supporters of Activities in Mississauga and puppet show, Theatre tickets coming soon

Crane Creations acknowledges that the land on which we are grateful to work, and which the Region of Peel operates on, is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Michi Saagiig, commonly referred to as the Mississauga First Nations. We acknowledge the territory of the Anishinabek, Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Ojibwe peoples, as well as all caretakers of this land acknowledged and unacknowledged, recorded and unrecorded, and past, present, and future.

  • 2021 Crane Creations

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  • (289) 727-2010
  • 210-2359 Royal Windsor Drive, Mississauga
  • info@cranecreations.ca

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Land Acknowledgement

Crane Creations Acknowledges The Land Which We Operate On Is Part Of The Treaty Lands And Territory Of The Michi Saagiig, Commonly Referred To As The Mississauga First Nations. We Acknowledge The Territory Of The Anishinabek, Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Ojibwe Peoples, As Well As All Caretakers Of This Land Acknowledged And Unacknowledged, Recorded And Unrecorded, And Past, Present, And Future.

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