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Puffling

Directors

Jessica Bishopp

Executive Producers

Caitlin Mae Burke, Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee

Producers

Gannesh Rajah, Alice Hughes

Editors

Xanna Ward Dixon

Cinematographers

Anna MacDonald

Every summer, on a remote island off the coast of Iceland, 18-year-old Birta and 16-year-old Selma rescue pufflings (young puffins) from imminent danger. The pufflings leave their nests for the first time and, guided by the light of the moon, make their journey out to sea to transition into adulthood. Unfortunately they get lost in town, mistaking the harbour lights for the moon. Set over one night, we follow Birta and Selma as they take it upon themselves to counteract humanity’s damaging impact on nature; exchanging night-time parties for puffin rescues. A coming-of-age documentary about growing up and making choices, worrying about the future, and dealing with encroaching environmental pressures, PUFFLING explores the delicate interplay between wildlife, the environment, and human life.

Puffling_J.Bishopp

Jessica Bishopp

Director, Puffling

Jessica Bishopp is an award-winning documentary filmmaker fascinated by subcultures and myth; exploring universal themes embedded in our daily lives. Her work has been screened at festivals including Sheffield Doc/Fest, Aspen Shortsfest, and AFI DOCS. Her artist film Lifespan was broadcast on Channel4, and her documentary films have been featured on The Atlantic, NOWNESS, and The Guardian Documentaries, receiving several Vimeo Staff Pick awards. She was selected from over 3,000 applications to represent the UK as a director at Berlinale Talents 2020. Recently her short documentary, Skyward, about two young bird watchers, premiered at the BFI London Film Festival 2022. Her latest film Puffling had its World Premiere in competition at SXSW 2023 and went on to win the Jury Award for Documentary at Oscar Qualifying Aspen Shortsfest 2023.