Meeting Your Maker

Meeting Your Maker (2026)



10.0 2026 18 min United States of America

Director: Gregory J.M. Kasunich

Cast: Jonathan Kite, Amanda Maddock, Lenny Jacobson, Thomas Lennon, Jason Sklar

A heartwarming story about a puppet who takes his own life. *Meeting Your Maker* is a darkly charming and deeply touching short film centered on Otis, the adored puppet star of a long-running kids' TV show, who spirals into an existential meltdown right before the landmark 300th episode. Amid the colorful mayhem of the studio and the dreamlike landscape of his puppeteer’s mind, the tale dives into identity, exhaustion, and the battle to create—fusing performer with creator in ways that are (fingers crossed) both tender and surprisingly hilarious.

More About This Film

Meeting Your Maker is an 18-minute drama about Otis, a beloved puppet from a long-running children's television program who experiences an existential crisis. The premise combines the familiarity of children's entertainment with an unexpectedly mature exploration of identity, purpose, and the relationship between a performer and the character he inhabits.

Gregory J.M. Kasunich wrote and directed the short, with an ensemble cast that includes Jonathan Kite, Amanda Maddock, Lenny Jacobson, Randy Sklar, Jason Sklar, and Thomas Lennon. The film has built a strong festival profile and has been recognized in several screenplay and short-film competitions.

  • Gregory J.M. Kasunich directed and wrote the film.
  • Derek Tramont, Lee Sacks, and Kasunich are credited as producers.
  • The film won Best Short at the 2026 St. Charles Film Festival.
  • It also received a Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Short at the 2026 Dallas International Film Festival.
  • The project had accumulated eight wins and four nominations in available awards listings.

Where to Watch

Meeting Your Maker has followed a festival-driven release path, with online availability depending on future digital distribution.