National
February
14 – 18 February Slapstick Festival, Bristol This is the 20th annual edition of what has grown to be the largest festival of slapstick comedy in Europe. This year amongst the silent film highlights, the ladies really do loom large with Beatrice Lille in Exit Smiling (1926), Laura La Plante in horror-comedy The Cat and The Canary (1927), Norma Talmadge in Paris set Rom-Com Kiki (1926) and Marie Prevost in yet another Rom-Com, Up In Mabel’s Room (1926). But there is also time for the guys, with a look at the career of the now almost forgotten Lloyd Hamilton, a helping of Buster Keaton and lots of time for everyone’s favorites Laurel and Hardy. Various locations, Bristol Link
March
1 – 17 March – Borderlines Film Festival Now in its twenty second year, the annual Borderlines Film Festival runs in the Shropshire, Hereford and Marches areas. Usually featuring a snattering of silents, details are to be confirmed . Various venues. Link
20 – 24 March. HippFest – Hippodrome Festival of Silent Film Scotland’s premier silent film festival takes place in Scotland’s oldest purpose-built cinema, with a range of British and international silent films. Its always a packed programme with films, presentations and discussion, all with live musical accompaniment of the highest caliber. Details to be announced. Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness, Scotland Link
April
20-21 April Kennington Bioscope Silent Film Weekend No silent film festival programme would be complete without the KenBio’s awesome weekenders, all featuring knowledgeable introductions and live musical accompaniment. Details to be announced. Cinema Museum, London Link
May
17 May British Silent Film Festival Symposium Welcome return of this event, comprising presentations from knowledgeable silent film experts as well as several film screenings. No further details as yet. King’s College, London No link yet.
July
24 – 28 July Cinema Rediscovered, Bristol The 8th annual event bringing the finest digital restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities back where they belong – on the big screen, including a selection of silents. No programme details as yet Various cinemas across Bristol. Link
September
20 – 22 September Wareham Silent Film Weekender After a successful debut in 2023, this looks set to become an annual event with this second outing. Safety Last (1923) kicks off the weekend and to mark a 100 years since its release there’s Buster Keaton’s stunt filled thrill ride Sherlock Jnr. (1924). As well as these perennial favourites The Weekender also has the UK Premiere of action packed Clash of the Wolves (1925) starring wonder dog star Rin Tin Tin and I hear rumours that there will also be a couple of early Hitchcock silents. Can’t wait. The Rex Cinema, Wareham Link
TBC British Silent Film Festival ? Absent for too long, and included here more in hope than expectation. Can’t say more than that but working on the theory that if we list it then it will happen! Phoenix Cinema, Leicester ? Link
October
2 – 13 October London Film Festival Hopefully this year with a stronger silent film element than last year’s single screening. BFI Southbank, London Link
November
9 – 10 November Kenningtom Bioscope Silent Laughter Weekend As always, expect the rare, the unusual and the rarely screened. No programme details as yet but but understand that there’s some really rare reels being lined up, from funny folk such as Harold Lloyd, Marion Davies, Laurel & Hardy, Monty Banks, Snub Pollard, Harpo Marx, Thelma Todd, Larry Semon, Mack Swain, Charley Chase… Cinema Museum, Lambeth Link
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International
January
11 – 14 January Netherlands Silent Film Festival This year the ladies get a good look in with Mary Pickford in Polyanna, Pola Negri in Forbidden Paradise and Asta Nielsen in The Vice of Humanity. Douglas Fairbanks crops up in the weird and wacky Mystery of the Leaping Fish and there are even a couple of Japanese and Mexican silent rarities . Plus lots more. All with live musical accompaniment. Pand P and Parktheater, Eindhoven Link
23 – 28 January Copenhagen Silent Film Festival This year is the fifth iteration of this festival. The festival opens with Valdemar Andersen’s newly restored vivacious comedy The Friend From Springfield (1927) accompanied live by Stephen Horne. The festival focuses on ‘the sound of silent films’, offering treats such as two concerts featuring rock and electronic music to accompany Valdemar Psilander film The Cradle And The Moth (1915) and Benjamin Christensen’s American drama Mockery (1927). Other screenings include The Wind (1928), The Street (1923) and The Devious Path (1928). Cinematheque, Copenhagen Link
February
15 – 25 February Berlin International Film Festival. Programme to be confirmed. Usually containing a strong element of silent film. Berlin, Germany Link
TBC Kansas Silent Film Festival Expect a packed programme but no film details available yet. White Concert Hall, Washburn University and Jayhawk Theatre, Topeka, Kansas Link
April
12 – 14 April – Toronto Silent Film Festival Now in its 14th year. No programme details as yet. Revue Cinema, Toronto, Canada Link
TBC Silent Film Days _ Tromso International Film Festival Silent Film Days is an arena for unique collaborations between professional musicians from around the world, with specially composed music performed live to silent film classics of all genres. No programme details as yet. Verdensteatret Cinematheque, Tromso, Norway Link
May
10 – 14 April – San Francisco Silent Film Festival Now in its 27th year but sadly no longer at the famous Castro Theatre. No programme details as yet. All films performed with live musical accompaniment from some of the world’s foremost silent film musicians. Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA Link
30 May – 2 June The Nitrate Picture Show The Nitrate Picture Show, the world’s festival of film conservation, returns for its eighth year. The festival features screenings of vintage nitrate prints from international archives—including the Eastman Museum’s own collection. No programme details as yet…they are not normally announced until the first day of the festival. Eastman Museum, Rochester, New York, USA Link
June
22 – 30 June Il Cinema Ritrovato, A festival dedicated to the rediscovery of rare and little-known films with a particular focus on the origins of cinema and the silent movie period. Now in its 38th year, it is organised every summer by the Cineteca di Bologna and is one of the world’s major festivals of film restoration with a strong silent element. No programme details as yet Various locations, Bologna, Italy Link
July
17 – 18 July Maine Silent Film Festival The second running of this festival. Screenings include features Timothy’s Quest ( 1922) and Yankee Doodle in Berlin 1919) plus a varied selection of shorts. All films come with live musical accompaniment by Doug Prostik. Alamo Theatre, Bucksport, Maine USA Link
September
TBC Primoji Banga (Early Film) Festival This will be the ninth edition of the Pirmoji Banga Film Festival. No details as yet. Vilnius, Lithuania Link
October
5 – 12 October Pordenone Silent Film Festival Running since 1982 as a collaborative effort between La Cineteca del Friuli in Gemona and the Cinemazero filmclub in Pordenone, the Giornate del Cinema Muto, aka Pordenone Silent Film Festival, has established itself as the leading international event dedicated to the preservation, diffusion, and study of the first thirty years of cinema. No programme details as yet. Cinema Verdi, Pordenone, Italy Link
24 October – 3 November Live Score Film Festival Running since 2019, all films come with live musical accompaniment. No programme details as yet. Setubal, Portugal Link
18 – 20 October Marie Dressler Foundation – Vintage Film Festival In 1992, a group of film enthusiasts involved in the restoration of the Marie Dressler house had a wild idea. Why not hold a festival showing the films in which Marie Dressler had starred? This seemingly fantastic idea grew into the present form in which they show a variety of films generally made before about 55-60 years ago, often, although not always, including a film starring Marie Dressler. No programme details as yet. Capitol Theater, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada Link
December
TBC Istanbul Silent Cinema Days Festival. No further details at present. Istambul, Turkey
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