Hot Docs

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey

Screenings

Fri, May 6 8:15 PM Isabel Bader Theatre	Not Available
Sat, May 7 8:15 PM Isabel Bader Theatre	Not Available
Sun, May 8 5:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox 1	Not Available

76 minutes | USA | English | International Premiere | Rating: G

“When a puppet is good and true and meaningful, it’s the soul of the puppeteer that you’re seeing.”
– Martin P. Robinson, veteran Sesame Street puppeteer

This Sundance Special Jury Prize winner is heart-warming and fun for the whole family. Being Elmo is the inspiring story of how a shy nine-year-old Kevin Clash pursued his dream of becoming a puppeteer on Sesame Street. Raised in a low-income community, Clash’s talents were evident in his homemade prototypes and the puppet shows he staged for his mother’s daycare kids. But it was after his first gig on a local children’s TV show that he was truly on the path. Featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes access at Sesame Street, Being Elmo captures the magic created by Jim Henson, and is a tribute to Henson’s legacy and the community of puppeteers who’ve enchanted generations of children around the world. - Karina Rotenstein