Peter von Puttkamer and Sheera von Puttkamer have created more than 120 documentaries and have been producing international award-winning films in the United States and Canada over the last 25 years. Their company, Gryphon Productions Ltd. have created documentaries for The Learning Channel (TLC), Animal Planet, Discovery Channel Europe/International, Discovery Canada, GLOBAL-TV, C.B.C., CTV, S.B.S. (Australian Public Television) and various Canadian specialty channels. These programs have won more than 65 international awards. Peter von Puttkamer’s fascination with indigenous peoples, anthropology, archaeology, mythology, music and wildlife has led to work around the world. Whether working on heart-felt personal stories, socio-political issues or broad adventure-based entertainment documentaries, filmmaking for the von Puttkamers has always been a blend of mind, body and spirit. Peter’s climbed through ancient caves used for human sacrifice in Mexico, filmed then eaten giant 12” tarantulas with Venezuelan blow-gun hunters, filmed sacred mask rituals and dances of North American natives, recorded soul music classics with legendary recording artists, worked with AIDS survivors, chased Caribou herds on the Arctic Circle, joined a hunt for Bigfoot and documented the heart-wrenching tales of terminally-ill patients. Their films have been specially selected for Festivals and retrospectives in Italy and Brazil. Their films/series for TLC/Discovery Channel/CTV such as “Sasquatch Odyssey” and “Monster Hunters” have dealt with the strange world of cryptozoology.“Sasquatch Odyssey” won several awards and was selected for the prestigious 1999 IDA Doctober Festival screenings in Los Angeles- qualifying it for Academy Award nomination “Monster Hunters” produced for TLC screened at the New York International Independent Film Festival in New York and LA and has won 2 Platinum Awards at the 2002 Worldfest Houston. In 2003-2004, Gryphon created & wrote/directed/co-produced an 8 hour, 24 segment series “Beyond Invention” for Discovery Channel. Winner of 3 American Indian Film Festival Awards, Peter von Puttkamer’s Native Indian films have had a major social, cultural and political impact. Along with his partner Sheera, Peter is currently producing/developing Feature Documentaries with Animal Planet, History Channel and Sony Pictures. |
