Debra Schaffner weaves reality, memory, and imagined worlds – because one thing is never enough. Raised by robots in the suburbs of New Jersey, she eventually made her way west, where she worked as a bike messenger, carpenter, and sound designer before discovering her passion as a filmmaker and video editor. Editor credits include THE TALLEST DWARF (SXSW 2025, SFIFF 2025), FREE FOR ALL: The Public Library (INDEPENDENT LENS, 2025), as well as films about sharks, tigers, and scary humans. She is currently directing her first feature, CURSE OF THE MUTANT HEIRLOOM, a hybrid documentary supported by SFFILM, BAVC MediaMaker, California Humanities, Jewish Story Partners, and the Berkeley Film Foundation.