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Hello HippCasters, we're back in the audiosphere this month with a double whammy of musical goodness! In today's show we hear from Jane Gardner and Hazel Morrison, a familiar and much beloved HippFest duo, following their recent visit to Tromsø Silent Film Days and ahead of their performance as part of our Taste of Silents season accompanying Murnau's Faust (1926). Conversation varies merrily from the days of silent film on British TV, to some of the stranger instruments (/body parts?) used in past scores, and of course a wee musical preview of what to expect in October. As always, a full English transcript, and more information about Jane and Hazel, can be found here. Happy listening! Relevant links See all the screenings in our 2026 Taste of Silents seasonFaust (1926) with music accompaniment from Jane and HazelCheck out Jane Gardner's website hereRead the 2023 blog by Alison Strauss Silent Siblings: HippFest Goes to Tromsø Silent Film DaysLearn more about Tromsø Silent Film DaysLearn more about some of the screenings mentioned (including The Goose Woman - 1925, The Grub Stake - 1923) by reading our Programme Notes

Our podcast guest this month is none other than the wonderful Kate Saccone! Kate is a film curator, scholar, and editor based in Amsterdam. She received her PhD from the University of Amsterdam in May 2026. She is the project manager and an editor of The Women Film Pioneers Project and currently serves as board president of Women and Film History International. In this month's episode Kate and Christina, our HippFest Digital Content Manager, chat about the breadth of Kate’s expertise, feminist historiographies, and the twin joys and challenges of uncovering and re-learning how we think about early cinema. As Kate states in the show, silent film culture is really thriving, and thus the conversation features a host of excellent recommendations for films, film-makers, organisations, research and other enticing silent era thought-threads. Make sure to check the links below for all the resources mentioned throughout, and as always, a full English transcript of the conversation is available here. Happy listening! Relevant links (orgs, events): Women Film Pioneers Project Overview EssaysFollow Women Film Pioneers Project on Bluesky Follow Women Film Pioneers Project on FacebookInfo on the upcoming 2027 conference Women and the Silent Screen XIII, “Transitions,” June 8-11, 2027Upcoming 2026 online event Entr'acte, November 6 - 7, 2026Follow Women and Film History International on Bluesky Follow Women and Film History International on InstagramEnter the inaugural ⁠Women and Film History International Student Project Award ⁠(deadline September 15th)Relevant links (films, people, texts) Fatma Begum's Pioneer ProfileNina Niovilla's Pioneer Profile, director of Youth Triumphs/Młodość Zwycięża (1923)Mabel Normand's Pioneer ProfileGene Gauntier's Pioneer ProfileAlma Reville's Pioneer ProfileAlma Reville: in the shadow of Hitchcock? presented by Dr Josephine BottingMore info on Adam and Eve/Adam a Eva (1922)Watch Adam and Eve/Adam a Eva (1922) at Bonn Stummfilmtage Pamela Hutchinson's The Curse of Queen KellyKaren Pearlman's Breaking PlatesKino Lorber's Pioneers: First Women FilmmakersKino Lorber's Cinema's First Nasty Women boxset Watch on YouTube: Lois Weber's Suspense (1913)Watch on YouTube: Florence Turner's Daisy Doodad's Dial (1914)

Filmhouse are turning one! Technically tomorrow (Saturday 27 June 2026), but who's counting? In today's show we hear from Program Manager Raymah Tariq, who reflects on the first year since re-opening in June 2025. The discussion includes a peek behind-the-scenes at programming strategy, Filmhouse first birthday celebrations and the 'We Have A Cinema And We're Not Afraid To Use It' strand, and how silent film/ wider repertory cinema fits into contemporary scheduling. Additional reading/ relevant links: Access a full english transcript of this conversation here.Filmhouse first birthday party (Saturday 27 June)! Filmhouse birthday programme: We've Got A Cinema And We're Not Afraid To Use ItFilmhouse birthday programme: Team Birthday PicksFilmhouse birthday programme: Top Filmhouse FilmsMore info about Filmhouse Birthday programme and ticketing

In this month's episode we speak to silent film polymath Ben Model, discussing his recent publication The Silent Film Universe. Digital Content Manager Christina had just finished reading when she spoke to Ben,  and picked out a couple of chapters from which to discuss a few key themes: audience participation in creating the story, text in silent film, and the undercranking phenomena: all about film speeds in filming and projection. Please enjoy! Additional reading/ relevant links: A full English transcript of this episode is available here.Visit Ben's websiteBuy the book, The Silent Film UniverseListen to Ben's podcast: The Silent Film Music PodcastRead Ben's blog (including 'The Language of Silent Film' posts mentioned)Browse the wares at Undercrank Productions (*sale in June 2026!*)More about Ernie Kovacs and Edie AdamsCatch up with previous episodes of The Silent Comedy Watch PartyMentioned in the show: Marketing Without the Marketing with Michael BoeziMentioned in the show: Akimbo: a podcast from Seth GodinWowHDP.S Yes we do have a new musical hook! Wee musical excerpts at the episode start and finish are from our HippFest at Home presentation of Saxophone Susy, with as-live accompaniment from: Jane Gardner (piano), Hazel Morrison (percussion), John Burgess (saxophone, clarinet).

After a brief podcast break to deliver HippFest 2026, we're back in the audiosphere with the third iteration of our Young voices on 'old cinema' mini-series, featuring thoughts and reflections from some of our young attendees. In this month's release we hear from Kitty Volino, a 19-year-old student who tuned in online from the Scottish Borders, plus 16-year-old Izzie Middleton, who joined us in-person in beautiful Bo'ness. Expect discussion on the whole gamut of silent film viewing - the combination of music and film, silent era happy endings, the feeling of 'watching together', intertitles, tinting, Baby Peggy - plus some stranger tangents (yes, Christina does mention Married At First Sight). Enjoy! Additional reading/ relevant links: A full transcript of this episode is available hereMore information about Young ScotCaptain January (novel) Wikipedia page, as discussedTweet: Clip of Buster Keaton stunts alongside 'how it's made', as discussedListen to our 2025 'Young voices' episodeListen to our 2024 'Young voices' episode P.S Yes we do have a new musical hook! Wee musical excerpts at the episode start and finish are from our HippFest at Home presentation of Saxophone Susy, with as-live accompaniment from: Jane Gardner (piano), Hazel Morrison (percussion), John Burgess (saxophone, clarinet).

Can you BELIEVE it's only a matter of weeks before our sixteenth edition kicks off? Well believe it or not, it's true - and in preparation for last-minute booking quandaries we've prepared another Programme Picks episode to tempt you. This year Digital Content Manager Christina Webber chats to The Skinny's Jamie Dunn and captain of the Hipp-ship, Festival Director Alison Strauss, to drill down into some of the silent titles most-anticipated coming up in 2026. Which Sherlock Holmes is Jamie's favourite? Where is our Norwegian-ceilidh-club night? Which films have our students selected to work with for New Found Sound? And how many films HAD Baby Peggy starred in when shooting Captain January (1924)? All these questions and plenty more throughout the show. If curious, the films selected by Jamie Dunn include: The Crowd (1928), The Bat (1926), The White Heather (1919), and Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases. HippFest's own Alison Strauss chooses to speak about Fante-Anne (1920), New Found Sound, April Fool (1926), Captain January (1924), and Apart From You (1933). Additional reading/ relevant links: Full English transcript of this episode available here.Jamie Dunn's HippFest 2026 preview in The SkinnyListen to The Skinny's film podcast, The CineskinnyMore information on HippFest 2026 Festival PassesSee the full HippFest 2026 programmeProgramme notes for The Bat (1926) by Allan HunterProgramme notes for Apart From You (1933) by Kelly RobinsonProgramme notes for The Crowd (1928) by David CairnsProgramme notes for Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases by Bryony DixonProgramme notes for The White Heather (1919) by Kathy Rose O'ReganWatch Maurice Tourneur: Franco-American Film Pioneer

Happy new year HippCasters! We're back in the audiosphere with a brand new episode inspired by the premiere of a new music commission for Jean Epstein's Finis Terrae (1929), premiering at HippFest 2026. Digital Content Manager Christina Webber catches up with Cinetopia's Amanda Rogers, plus musicians Dan Abrahams and Philippe Boudot as they begin creating a brand new soundscape for this film, set on a bleak island off the Breton coast. The film’s visual style, rich in atmosphere, and with a dual sense of menace and beauty, is an exciting invitation to the musicians whose folk-infused score will illuminate the thrilling elemental rhythm of this land and seascape. The Finis Terrae project is produced by Cinetopia in collaboration with the Edinburgh Film Guild. It is funded by Cockaigne Fund, administered by Foundation Scotland, and with support from the Hope Scott Trust and Help Musicians. We are excited to host the world premiere of this new music commission as part of HippFest 2026. Enjoy the show! P.S Love HippCast? Please follow us on Spotify, or send your favourite episode to a friend. It helps! Additional reading/relevant links Full speaker bios and an English transcript of this episode are available hereBook tickets for the premiere of Finis Terrae (18 March) at HippFest 2026Cinetopia: Scotland's Film CommunityMore info on Cinetopia's project I Ken Whaur I'm GuanMore info on purchasing a HippFest 2026 Festival PassStay in touch with Dan Abrahams and Philippe BoudotMore info about ⁠Dowally⁠ (Dan Abrahams and Rachel Petyt)

It's that time of year again! In today's episode - a festive special featuring plenty of yule tide tangents - we talk to author Sarah Cook about 'silent' Christmas. Digital Content Manager Christina Webber has questions: were Christmas movies a thing in the silent era? Would we recognise some of the tropes of today's Christmas film in the movies made a century ago? And why does the iconography of a Victorian Christmas still have such a hold on our imaginations? Listen along to Episode 31 to hear about all this and more. As another tempting teaser, Sarah also shares a little bit with us on 'creepy' Christmas - see below - and we've included a plethora of additional reading and viewing links in the show notes in case your interest is suitably piqued...Additional reading/ relevant links: Read the full English transcript of this episodeRead 'The best Christmas films of the Silent Era' by Sarah Cook (courtesy of Film Stories)Watch Santa Claus (1898) on BFI PlayerWatch Harold Shaw's A Christmas Carol (1914) on BFI PlayerWatch The Night Before Christmas (1913) on YouTubeWatch HippFest at Home: 'A New Look at Our Oldest Films', an illustrated presentation on Victorian film made for HippFest 2024 by Bryony DixonRead more about the portrait commissioned by Prince Albert in 1848 (courtesy of the V&A)A great Christmas film every year from 1925 to now (courtesy of the BFI)More information on purchasing a HippFest 2026 Festival Pass

We mark our 30th episode by inviting independent researcher Laraine Porter onto the podcast to chat with Digital Content Manager Christina about what was going on in the film world on either side of, you guessed it, 1930. The cusp of the 'thirties was a pivotal moment for cinema, with synchronised sound radically changing operations across production and exhibition. Previously loud and boisterous sets had to adapt to operating in silence, and picture houses across the world had to make way for a whole new technology. The discussion ranges from the 'talkies' to the 'singies' and the goat gland films, and considers why some stars ended up as casualties of this seismic revolution. Additional links: ⁠A selection of Laraine's Porter's writing on this subject⁠⁠Listen to Episode 23 to learn more about Hitchcock's (silent) heroines⁠⁠Watch 'Alma Reville: in the shadow of Hitchcock?'⁠Read the full English transcript of this episode About the speaker: Laraine Porter is an independent researcher and Associate Fellow at DeMontfort University, University of Exeter and Bristol University. She was the co-founder and co-director of the British Silent FIlm Festival which ran between 1998 and 2019 and now runs as annual events at the Cinema Museum and Kings College in London. Between 2014 and 2019, Porter ran a major research project on British Silent Cinema and the Transition to Sound, and has written several journal articles on this subject.

Hello listeners and welcome to Episode 29! In today's release we hear from Michael Coull, Cinema Programmer at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), who chats to us all about one of our upcoming screenings: The Phantom of the Opera (1925).  To celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the release of this iconic film, Dundead - DCA's annual horror and cult Film Festival and programming strand - has commissioned a new score by Scottish musicians Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman to be performed live at five venues across Scotland, including the Hippodrome, where we are showing the film on Thursday the 30th of October. The Phantom of the Opera tour is a Dundee Contemporary Arts and Dundead project supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI's Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery. HippFest Digital Content Manager Christina Webber chats to DCA Cinema Programmer Michael Coull about the story, and asks why Rupert Julian's 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera ranks among the greatest horror films of the silent era.About the speaker: Michael Coull is Cinema Programmer at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) where he also programmes Dundead, DCA’s annual film festival and programme strand celebrating horror, cult and weird cinema. Dundead has been running since 2011, screening the best in new and vintage horror, and Michael took over programming in 2021. Over the years Dundead has grown to be a key part of DCA’s programme and the Dundead audience is one DCA’s most engaged and loyal audiences.Additional reading/ relevant links: Access a full English transcript of this episode here.Book tickets to The Phantom of the Opera (1925)Check out our 2025 Taste of Silents seasonMore info on Dundead Halloween (running Sat 11 - Fri 31 October 2025)Check out Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA)Listen to HippCast Episode 22 ft. Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman

In this month's episode we hear from three of our 2025 Young Programmers, who have been busy behind-the-scenes preparing our Autumn mini-season of silent film with live music. Alanna Steel, Helen Jockel and Eve Jeffreys share what it was like working together to choose the titles and their musical accompaniments, as well as explaining a little bit about each film and the variety of extra activities surrounding the screenings. In case you needed a reminder, the upcoming season of in-person screenings features: Clarence Brown's Flesh and the Devil (1925) on Saturday 20 September, with live musical accompaniment by Stephen HorneSergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin (1925) on Saturday 4 October, with live musical accompaniment by S!nkBuster Keaton's Go West (1926) on Saturday 18 October, with live musical accompaniment by Mike Nolan Plus a reprisal of online show HippFest at Home (again!) - Neil Brand: Key Notes for our international audiences who missed out in March. Digital Content Manager Christina dives a little deeper into how each guest first discovered silent cinema, and what being a Young Programmer with HippFest is like... All the relevant information on multi-ticket deals, booking, shuttle bus times, etc can be found on the Hippodrome website. Happy listening! Additional links from the episode Full English episode transcriptThe Edinburgh Silent Film Club (on Instagram)The Edinburgh Silent Film Club (on Facebook)

In Episode 27 of our monthly film-focused audio show, Digital Content Manager Christina spoke to Jennifer Bulcock, the inspirational powerhouse behind the brand new (and upcoming) Penistone Film Festival! This new event is a two-day celebration of silent cinema, coming very soon to a beautiful cinema in South Yorkshire: the Penistone Paramount. Built as the assembly hall for Penistone in 1914 and screening films ever since, this beautiful multipurpose picture palace has been a home for entertainment for over a century, much like our own Hippodrome in Bo'ness. The town of Penistone, like Bo'ness, is blessed with a picturesque train station and shares a proud industrial heritage too, being renowned for its steelworks. Jennifer and her team are hard at work, designing a fun and friendly festival to introduce new audiences to the magic of silent cinema with live music. The inaugural event will run over one weekend on the 18th and 19th of October, celebrating the cinema's heritage and encouraging local audiences to try something new. And it's not just about watching films! There are local art stalls, a photo booth, stunt performers, roaming characters and period re-enactments, plus an invitation to create and submit your own silent film to an esteemed panel of judges. Christina and Jennifer speak all about the program, the festival's beginnings and purpose, as well as exploring various tangents, including TikTok and contemporary short form video viewing, working class alienation in the creative industries, and the need to invest in local community spaces. We hope you enjoy, and follow PFF your favourite social media platforms to stay up to date with goings-on. Additional reading/ relevant links: All about Penistone Film FestivalFull English transcript of this episodeEnter your own silent film into the competition!Learn more about HippFest's trip to Tromso Silent Film Days

For June's release we caught up with two of our favourite film archivists Kathy Rose O’Regan and Robert Byrne, during a brief pit stop between screenings at Il Cinema Ritrovato⁠, Bologna. Fresh off the back of presenting the new restoration of THE GARDEN OF EDEN (1928), accompanied by HippFest favourites Stephen Horne and Frank Bockius in Il Cinema Ritrovato‘s gorgeous Cinema Modernissmo, Kathy and Robert share some of their early festival favourites, explain the process of film restoration, and introduce the San Francisco Film Preserve. Formerly organised as part of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, SFFP commenced operation as an independent non-profit on October 1 2024. Their mission is to restore, preserve, and provide access to the world’s cinematic heritage, ensuring that works of cinema remain accessible for future generations. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, SFFP aim to inspire a deeper appreciation for the art of film while safeguarding its cultural significance for years to come. SFFP also produce a monthly online presentation on early film restoration and discovery – on Friday 18 July Dr. Veronica Johnson will be presenting on her deep and compelling research on the first indigenous Irish film company – named, unsurprisingly, the Film Company of Ireland. Don’t miss this – though if you do we’ve been told it will be on YouTube after the event! More info here. As always, there is a full English transcript of this conversation here.All about the San Francisco Film Preserve.⁠Catch up on previous online presentations from San Francisco Film Preserve via the SFFP YouTube.⁠All about Il Cinema Ritrovato.More info on ⁠THE GARDEN OF EDEN (1928)Current projects and other restorations at SFFP.

A month on from our fifteenth edition, we speak to some of our youngest attendees and recent silent film converts on their highlights from HippFest 2025! This episode contains two interviews: one with our 2025 Young Scot reward winner Rhiannon Byles, and one with three of our 2025 Young Programmers: Eve Jeffreys, Alanna Steel, and Helen Jockel recorded by Dave Barras (Strange Boat Films). In a neat link, Alanna was our 2024 Young Scot reward winner, bringing Eve along for the ride, and if interested to hear their reflections on their first visit to HippFest you can catch up on episode 14 here. Rhiannon also mentions her first experience of silent film with live music - a screening of Nosferatu at the Prince Charles Cinema in London, accompanied by Hugo Max - and you can catch up on our interview with Hugo last year in episode 19 here. So many lovely overlaps!! We hope this episode prompts some of your own fond reflections on your visit to HippFest this year. Remember to save the dates for the next edition: 18-22 March 2026! Relevant links: Read a full English episode transcript hereEve and Alanna's Edinburgh Silent Film ClubNeil Brand presents: Silent Comedy Triple Bill at DCAMore info on where to next find Hugo MaxReflect on a festival even further back in time by listening to 'Young voices on old cinema' numero uno (from 2023 - episode THREE)!

It's the annual 'programme picks' episode - a listener favourite! - and with less than one week to go, what better time to have another look over the line-up? Featuring plenty of additional film titbits, predictions, promises, admiration for musicians, and general chatter from the team working away behind-the-scenes to present HippFest's glittering fifteenth edition. Featuring the follow staff members and titles: HANNAH BRADLEY CROALL: Before the Face of the Sea (1926); With Reindeer and Sled in Inka Länta's Winterland (1926); Our Hospitality (1923); The Cave of the Spider Woman (1927). ABBIE DOBSON: The Swallow and the Titmouse (1920); The Pleasure Garden (1925). NATALIE ALLISON: Friday Night Gala - The Pride of the Clan (1917); Neil Brand: Key Notes. NELL CARDOZO: The Shamrock Handicap (1926); What the Water Remembers - The Dark Mirror (2025) and Exhibition at Bo'ness Library; New Found Sound. ALISON STRAUSS: Flora Kerrigan - Rediscover a Film Pioneer; The Near Shore: A Scottish and Irish Cine-Concert; Forgotten Faces (1928).Additional reading/ relevant links: Read a full English transcript of this episode.Learn more about the HippFest teamBook tickets to everything upcoming at HippFest 2025An illustrated overview of the HippFest 2025 programmeAs mentioned: Alma Reville: in the shadow of Hitchcock?As mentioned: In the Frame of the Father: Films made by Irish Priests