7 September

Celebrating a Bristol Film Pioneer.  After the huge success of celebrating one of Bristol’s film heroes, South West Silents and Dawkins Ales are proud to announce another chance to raise a glass to celebrate the great Bristol film pioneer, William Friese-Greene.  Born in Bristol on 7th September 1855, William Edward Green (the Friese-Greene was added later) is classed by many as one of the founding fathers of British Cinema and a key figure in the early development of cinematography as a whole. In some circles he is celebrated, while in others he is damned for filing patents on devices he allegedly didn’t invent.   On the anniversary of his birth this event will celebrate the inventor’s birthday with the return of the beer named in his honour and with a selection of films inspired by his work. The Victoria Public House, Clifton, Bristol Link

 10 September

Napoleon (Dir. Abel Gance, 1927) (Screening format – DCP,  332 mins) Gance’s astounding biopic of Napoleon traces his career from his schooldays (where a snowball fight is staged like a military campaign), his flight from Corsica, through the French Revolution (where a real storm is intercut with a political storm) and the Terror, culminating in his triumphant invasion of Italy in 1797.  The film ends here because it was intended to be part one of six, but Gance was unable to raise the money to make further episodes. The film’s legendary reputation is due to the astonishing range of techniques that Gance uses to tell his story (including fast cutting, extensive close-ups, hand-held camera shots, location shooting, point of view shots, multiple camera set-ups, multiple exposure, superimposition and under water shots) culminating in the final twenty-minute triptych sequence, which alternates widescreen panoramas with complex multiple- image montages.  This is the most complete version of the film available, compiled by Academy Award-winning film-maker, archivist and historian Kevin Brownlow who spent over 50 years tracking down surviving prints from archives around the world since he first saw a 9.5mm version as a schoolboy in 1954.  Find out more at  BFI and  Wikipedia      With recorded Carl Davies orchestral accompaniment.  Curzon, Clevedon Link

18 September

London Symphony (Dir.  Alex Barrett, UK, 2017) (Screening format – not known)  London Symphony  is a brand new silent film – a city symphony – which offers a poetic journey through London, a cosmopolitan city facing a challenge to its identity in the current political climate.  It is an artistic portrait of the city as it stands today, and a celebration of its culture and diversity. Find out more at londonsymphfilm.com .  Featuring a recorded original musical composition by James McWilliam.  Cube Microplex, Bristol  Link

20 September

A Night of Early Colour Films South West Silents will host a special programme showcasing a variety of rare early colour films from across the silent period. Tinted and toned specialities, some meticulously hand stencilled examples, and maybe even some of the earliest experiments in capture true colours on film. A unique programme with some exclusive films never before seen in Bristol.  Introduced and put into their historic context, these fascinating short films are not to be missed!  Lansdown Public House, Clifton, Bristol Link

London Symphony (Dir.  Alex Barrett, UK, 2017) (Screening format – not known)  London Symphony  is a brand new silent film – a city symphony – which offers a poetic journey through London, a cosmopolitan city facing a challenge to its identity in the current political climate.  It is an artistic portrait of the city as it stands today, and a celebration of its culture and diversity. Find out more at londonsymphfilm.com .  Featuring an original musical composition by James McWilliam.  Cube Microplex, Bristol  Link

21 September

London Symphony (Dir.  Alex Barrett, UK, 2017) (Screening format – not known)  London Symphony  is a brand new silent film – a city symphony – which offers a poetic journey through London, a cosmopolitan city facing a challenge to its identity in the current political climate.  It is an artistic portrait of the city as it stands today, and a celebration of its culture and diversity. Find out more at londonsymphfilm.com .  Featuring an original musical composition by James McWilliam. Curzon Cinema, Clevedon  Link

28 September

The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty (Dir. Esfir Shub, USSR, 1927) (Screening format – not known, 87mins)  The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty is notable for being constructed almost entirely out of stock footage which was compiled by director Esfir Shub, who had worked as an editor on several films before making this film. Whereas other documentary filmmakers, including Dziga Vertov, created films out of their own footage, Shub constructed a documentary narrative out of newsreel footage shot before the Revolution. Using this footage, she created a narrative about the brutality of the First World War and the neglect on the part of the Tsar and his ministers, one of the catalysts for the 1917 Revolution.  Find out more at edinburghfilmguild.org.uk .   Presented as part of the Bristol Radical Film Festival.  With live musical accompaniment by Stereocilia.  Trinity Centre,  Bristol.  Link

29 September

A Cottage on Dartmoor (Dir. Anthony Asquith, 1929) (Screening format – BluRay, 84mins)  Joe (Uno Henning) works as a barber in a shop in a Devon town, alongside a manicurist called Sally (Norah Baring). He becomes infatuated with her and asks her out but  it is clear that Sally does not reciprocate Joe’s feelings.  Joe’s infatuation with her develops into obsession. Meanwhile a young  farmer Harry (Hans Schlettow), begins to woo Sally and the couple begin seeing each other which leaves Joe in despair. After a fight with Harry, Joe is jailed but swears revenge on Harry and Sally.  A Cottage on Dartmoor is a tale of love and revenge set in the bleak landscape of Dartmoor and a thoughtful distillation of the best of European silent film techniques from a director steeped in the work of the Soviet avant-garde and German expressionism. One of the last films of the silent era and a virtuoso piece of film-making, A Cottage on Dartmoor was a final passionate cry in defence of an art form soon to be obsolete. Find out more at  silentfilm.org.   Presented as part of the Landulph Festival   With live musical accompaniment by Wurlitza. Landulph Village Hall, Landulph, Cornwall Link

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