Director
Peter von Puttkamer
 Peter von Puttkamer has been producing international award-winning films in the United States and Canada over the last 20 years. Von Puttkamer’s documentaries have aired on Discovery Channel/TLC (Canada,US, Europe), GLOBAL-TV, C.B.C., CTV, S.B.S. (Australian Public Televison) and various Canadian specialty channels. These programs have won more than 50 international awards. Von Puttkamer has also directed short dramas and worked as a Director of Photography and Editor on P.B.S dramas. Von Puttkamer’s programs have dealt with a variety of issues: anthropology, environment, socio-political themes, medical breakthroughs and films produced for and about Native Americans.
His interest in the mythology and cultures of native peoples, led to a lifelong fascination with unknown mysteries: monsters, legendary animals and the supernatural. His 1992 film "The Spirit of the Mask" provided an unprecedented look at the fantastic world of Northwest Coast native masks and the spiritual messages they contain for our world. Hosted by bestselling author/ethnobotanist Wade Davis ("The Serpent and the Rainbow"), the film featured rarely seen native ceremonies. "Sasquatch Odyssey" came about through his interest in the "wildmen" myths of the world and discussions with producer Julie Lee about the life of Rene Dahinden and his 45 year search for Bigfoot. "Sasquatch Odyssey" was featured at this years IDA’s Doctober Film Festival, making it eligible for Academy Award nomination. It has aired nationwide in Canada and is expected to air nationally in the US, in the late fall of 2000.
Working alongside his wife Sheera (producer)- his films on native peoples in North America, have tackled such challenging issues as: AIDS, alcohol and drug addiction, family violence, single parenthood, environmental issues, etc. Several of these programs are among the most widely praised and used by native peoples in North America. Von Puttkamer is a three-time winner at the American Indian Film Festival- including Best Feature Documentary Video in 1994. In 1998, Peter von Puttkamer’s films on aboriginal peoples were presented as a retrospective of his work at the "Silent Call of the Earth" Film Festival in Palermo, Sicily and at "Images of Nature" festival in Sao Paolo, Brazil, also in 1998.
"His (von Puttkamer’s) films are without rhetoric…they are realized with technical skill and the editing seems to descend from the great tradition of Robert Flaherty, John Grierson (founders of documentary) and Pare Lorentz" Giovanni Massa, "Silent Call of the Earth Festival"- Sicily, Italy.
"When Peter von Puttkamer’s film "Heart of the People" premiered in Vancouver last month, it not only received rave reviews, it triggered unexpected responses…this is must viewing…an articulate story told by the people themselves…" Ray Chatelin The Vancouver Province
Von Puttkamer’s films on First Nations/Environmental issues, have included his 1996 Gemini-nominated film "Heart of the People" (Canadian "Emmy"). This broadcast of this program, about a native people’s desire to restore their ancient river (destroyed by clear-cut logging) not only drew an emotional response but helped enact change. The media attention surrounding the film helped bring the logging corporations and government to the table to begin funding a restoration of the salmon habitat and river valley. In 1985, Peter von Puttkamer worked in partnership with Choctaw filmmaker Phil Lucas to create "The Honour of All-The Story of Alkali Lake"- considered a landmark Native documentary dealing with alcoholism and recovery; this film became the most widely used drug/alcohol prevention film amongst aboriginal peoples in North America and worldwide. In 1992, Peter von Puttkamer directed "Kecia-Words to Live By" about a young HIV+ native girl delivering powerful AIDS and HIV messages to native communities. This film and two other produced by Gryphon Productions, became the most widely used films on AIDS prevention in native communities in the US and Canada and won some 13 international awards. In 1993, "Cry of the Forgotten Land", co-written and co-produced by Von Puttkamer- looked at the impact of Indonesia’s harsh environmental and human rights policies in Irian Jaya (West Papua): it’s effects on the people and their traditional forests. In 1998, Peter von Puttkamer also wrote/directed an adventure/travel program in Canada’s north for the "Trail Blazers" series- a European Discovery Channel production. Currently von Puttkamer is directing programs for the International Documentary Television series entitled: "Champions of the Wild"- for Omni Film and Canada’s Discovery Channel. This series looks at individuals worldwide who are helping to protect and preserve various animal species.
Currently, Von Puttkamer is directing a sequel to the "Heart of the People" documentary with the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, as well as other social/health documentaries with B.C.’s aboriginal communities.
P.O. Box 93009, 5331 Headland Drive
West Vancouver, B.C. V7W 3C0 Tel. (604) 921-7627
e-mail: gryphon@telus.net
Gryphon Productions Ltd
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