TOUR DATES
The General
5th September, 2026: Art Deco Theatre, Ballymote, Co. Sligo
The 1926 legendary silent comedy starring Buster Keaton set during the American Civil War. This year marks the 100th anniversary of its premiere. One of the greatest films of the silent era, with its famous train-on-the-bridge scene, the most expensive scene in silent film history.
Screening with live musical accompaniment. More info soon. Time tbc.
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
3rd October, 2026: Art Deco Theatre, Ballymote, Co. Sligo
This haunting silent thriller directed by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, tells the tale of a mysterious young man (matinee idol Ivor Novello) who takes up residence at a London boardinghouse.
Screening with live musical accompaniment. More info soon. Time tbc.
PREVIOUS SCREENINGS
We were thrilled to be part of this year's Dublin Film Festival programme! We contacted An Taibhdhearc National Irish Language Theatre in Galway City for a potential collaboration. They kindly agreed to rent their theatre for this special event. Together, we organized a screening of The Garden of Eden, 1928, directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Corinne Griffith, Louise Dresser, and Lowell Sherman. The intertitles were specially translated into Irish for this occasion. The live music was composed and performed by the incredibly talented Mila Maia and Agustina Taborda, who have extensive experience, having played at Silent Cinema for the past three years. The film itself was recently revived, beautifully restored by the San Francisco Film Preserve.
Westport Arts Festival
We were thrilled to partner with Westival, the yearly festival celebrating art and entertainment in the lovely Westport, County Mayo, for a unique screening of Buster Keaton’s timeless classic The General (1926), featuring a live musical score played by our resident pianist, Mila Maia. This event occurred on Saturday, 25th October at the W Cinema, drawing a full audience of movie lovers. We sincerely hope to return to Westport for another enchanting night of silent film with live music!
Féile
John Ford
Féile John Ford is a distinctive cultural festival taking place in An Spidéal, Co. Galway, honoring one of Hollywood's most celebrated directors. The festival ran from Friday, September 5th to Sunday, September 7th, 2025. We attended the festival for the screening of John Ford's charming silent film, The Shamrock Handicap (1927). Our new pianist, the incredibly talented Mia Fitzgerald (piano), provided live musical accompaniment alongside her sister Ruth (violin).
The General
Our second visit to the Pálás Cinema came at a special moment, as just before the closure of this iconic venue was announced... we screened The General (1926), starring the one and only Buster Keaton. The musical accompaniment was performed by the sensational trio: Mila Maia (flute), Agustina Taborda (piano), and Gustavo Lobao (percussion instruments). The house was once again packed!
Sherlock, Jr.
The Clifden Arts Festival 2024 marked Silent Cinema's debut participation. We showed up with a talented three-piece band to provide live music for the delightful Buster Keaton comedy, Sherlock, Jr. (1924). The trio featured our resident pianist, Agustina Taborda (on piano), fellow Silent Cinema member Mila Maia (playing the flute), and Gustavo Lobao (on percussion). The venue was full, and sadly, many attendees were unable to secure tickets. Following the screening, the musicians were met with a resounding applause. It was an incredible evening!
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
We had the pleasure of visiting the legendary, now-closed Pálás Cinema on two occasions. Our first visit was for the screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), directed by Robert Wiene. The musical performance was delivered by the group XOANON, which included Antonis Kalamoutsos (bass guitar, percussion), Graham Keane (vocals, and various instruments), and Brendan Pooley (guitar). The theater was filled to capacity, with every ticket sold out!
