Taxidermy: Stuff the World (2005)

It is a billion-dollar concern, yet few boast an intimate knowledge of the bizarre and sometimes shocking world of taxidermy.

This film follows the fate of a handful of contributors as they prepare for, and compete at, the World Taxidermy Championships 2005 in Illinois, USA.

The Championships are held over five days with 1000 entries from 49 US States and 29 countries around the world. Competition is serious business with taxidermists spending months preparing their pieces in an attempt to artistically resuscitate the dead and win taxidermy’s highest awards.

‘Taxidermy God’ Ken from Canada, is trying to mount a life-sized prehistoric Great Elk for the Championships, but he faces a tough challenge because the giant animals have been extinct for at least 5000 years. Meanwhile, Roy from Texas has always dreamed of killing a leopard to mount for the competition, and he travels to South Africa in search of the perfect specimen.

Nine-year-old Victoria is the youngest taxidermist in the championships. She is known as ‘killer’ by those close to her due to her deadly aim. Victoria will be mounting a deer she shot herself for the ‘stuffing Olympics’. Taxidermist Jeanette is focussed on conquering the male dominated industry and she is determined to be judged on her mounts and not on her looks.

British taxidermist Jack has teamed up with Peter from Denmark in a bid for championship glory. The competitive pair are hoping their mounted bird will beat the Americans in the prize stakes. One of their European counterparts, Matthias, has become disillusioned with the Taxidermy world after failing to make his fortune and he searches for fulfilment elsewhere.