• ON TOUR

    We`re going places!

    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).

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    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!

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    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!

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    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!

  • We love to come to your place!

    This year, we hosted Ireland's first Silent Film Festival, an event focused on honoring, preserving, and reinterpreting the art of silent cinema while also showcasing local artistic talent.

    The festival features both classic masterpieces and modern silent films, often in distinctive locations like St. Nicholas Collegiate Church. Notable films presented at the festival have included:

    • The Passion of Joan of Arc - Carl Theodor Dreyer's remarkable masterpiece.
    • Love - The 1927 drama with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, inspired by Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.
    • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - Robert Wiene's expressionist film.
    • Shoes - A film by Lois Weber.
    • Salomé - Featuring Alla Nazimova.

    Additionally, surrealist and Dadaist films are frequently showcased, including works by Maya Deren, Man Ray, Hans Richter, Fernand Léger, Marcel Duchamp, Luis Buñuel, and Salvador Dalí.

    A vital aspect of the festival is the live musical accompaniment, which offers a unique, immersive experience. Musicians often create original scores or improvise during the screenings.

    Artists who frequently collaborate with the festival and Silent Cinema Galway include:

    • Mila Maia (pianist, flautist, composer) – Renowned for her work across various genres, she is a resident artist of Silent Cinema Galway. She composed the music for The Passion of Joan of Arc, which was screened at the festival in St. Nicholas Church.
    • Michael Chang (violinist) – Accompanied, among others, the screening of The Passion of Joan of Arc.
    • Agustina Taborda (bandoneonist, pianist, composer) – Creates and improvises music, and contributed to the accompaniment for The Birth of Cinema.
    • Antonis Kalamoutsos, Brendan Pooley, Mia Fitzgerald – Have provided musical support for films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

    The festival also supports other related events, such as The Roaring Twenties Show or late-night shows featuring DJs who live score avant-garde films.

    We would be thrilled to bring some of the aforementioned films and musicians to your arts festival and beyond. Feel free to contact us with any related questions!

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