Debra Schaffner weaves together reality, memory and imagined worlds – because one thing is never enough. Raised by robots in the suburbs of New Jersey, she eventually made her way west where she worked as a bike messenger, carpenter, and sound designer before finally settling on filmmaker and video editor. Editor credits include THE TALLEST DWARF (SXSW 2025, SFIFF 2025) as well as films about sharks, tigers, and libraries. She is currently directing her first feature, CURSE OF THE MUTANT HEIRLOOM, supported by BAVC MediaMaker, SFFILM, Jewish Film Institute, Jewish Story Partners, California Humanities, and the Berkeley Film Foundation. As a filmmaker, she is interested in the truth and laughter that lies between fiction and non-fiction storytelling.