Scotland’s Silent Film Festival, HippFest, will shortly be in full swing with its 15th edition programme in its home at the beautiful Hippodrome in Bo’ness where it will showcase over 100 years of filmmaking this March.
Big names of their era such as Mary Pickford, Laurel and Hardy and the timeless talent of Buster Keaton will all be on the big screen, while behind the camera HippFest explores the early works of Hollywood giants including Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford.
The following are just five highlights from this year’s five day event.
With Reindeer and Sled in Inka Länta’s Winterland (Med ackja och ren i Inka Läntas vinterland – 1926)
The feature-length earliest example of Sámi life captured on film, following Inka Länta and family as they strive to subsist the harsh winter months.
HippFest welcomes Sámi musicians Hildá Länsman, Tuomas Norvio and Lávre Johan Eira, along with Swedish composer, cellist and bass guitarist Svante Henryson for the UK premiere of their new score, fresh from the Tromsø International Film Festival.
Wednesday 19th March at 19:30
Flora Kerrigan – Rediscovering a Film Pioneer
Discover the world of Irish animator Flora Kerrigan with a collection of silent animation and live-action shorts shot on 8mm film in the 1960s that were recently rediscovered through the Women in Focus Film Archives project.
Kerrigan’s work will be presented with a newly commissioned accompaniment by Irish avant-garde free-improvisational pianist, Paul G. Smyth in partnership with the Irish Film Institute.
Thursday 20th March at 17:30
What the Water Remembers – The Dark Mirror
In a co-commission with Flatpack Festival audiences will see the weaving of a mythological tale inspired by the rich recorded history and the culture of Britain’s waterways.
Developed by multi-media artist Moira Salt, the new moving image will be accompanied by a score from folktronica duo Tommy Perman (ex-FOUND member) and Andrew Wasylyk (multiple SAY award-nominee and Idlewild member).
New Found Sound Sunday 2rd3 March at 10:00
New Found Sound invites young musicians from Falkirk district schools to compose, arrange and perform new scores for Scottish archive shorts.
Saturday 22nd March at 20:00
Smouldering Fires
Pauline Frederick plays the female executive in love with a younger employee in this intelligent and remarkably modern workplace romance.
Inspired by the screening, HippFest will host a Bath Bombs and Beauty Creams Workshop at Bo’ness Library, Sunday 23rd March at 14.00.
Sunday 23rd March 17:00
HippFest is a project of Falkirk Council, supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI.
HippFest 2025 Festival Dates: Wednesday 19th – Sunday 23rd March 2025
Selected events are available to view online on-demand within a 48-hour viewing window after the in-person screenings. Festival-goers can get a taste of what’s to come with HippFest’s pre-Festival presentations which are broadcast on the Falkirk Leisure & Culture YouTube channel. Tickets are on sale now for the full programme, as well as the HippFest Festival and Weekend Pass. For full programme information and to book tickets visit www.hippfest.co.uk
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 