90 minutes – Documentary
Language: English
Festival release date: September 9, 2023 – Toronto International Film Festival (World Premiere)
Release date: TBA
Production company: marblemedia, Hawkeye Pictures,
Canadian distributor: Distribution 360

Mr. Dressup was Ernie Coombs, an American artist who ended up in Canada and ended up spending almost 30 years of his life playing this character in 4000 episodes of his show that ran on CBC from 1967 to 1996. The 90-minute documentary combines never-before-seen archival footage, interviews with series puppeteers including original puppeteer Judith Lawrence, the Coombs family, many notable Canadians, who share the impact the series had on them. The project also includes fascinating insights into Coombs and how he worked with other key creators and partners, including his friendship with Fred Rogers.

Produced with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund, Rogers Documentary Fund and Ontario Creates. An Amazon Prime Video Original in association with CBC.
Also see: CDN Docs at TIFF’23.