HippFest, Scotland’s annual festival of silent film, has marked another successful year with its 16th edition welcoming audiences to the Hippodrome Cinema for five days of silent film with live music.
Audiences flocked from across the UK and beyond to enjoy the programme, with more expected to tune in online when HippFest at Home 2026 begins at the end of this month. (details below)
Festival Director, Alison Strauss, said “The Hippodrome is the beating heart of Bo’ness and it’s been truly magical seeing our beautiful cinema filled with people from all corners who have travelled here to be part of the HippFest community. I am grateful to all our audiences for their part in making the Festival so special – whether by joining in one of our workshops, voting in our audience awards, writing reviews, donating money on top of the cost of their ticket, or trusting us and taking a chance on an unfamiliar title.
“At the same time, I’m proud of the tremendous team of freelancers and Falkirk Council colleagues, whose hard work, enthusiasm and expertise make HippFest such a high calibre event.”
HippFest’s 16th edition screened a total of 27 feature films and shorts, all with live accompaniment from musicians, including young artists from across the Falkirk region.
This year’s Audience Award went to New Found Sound, HippFest’s annual project that pairs young musicians with shorts from the National Library Scotland’s Moving Image Archive. Scotland was also represented elsewhere in the programme, with screenings of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped, and a triple-bill of Silent Sherlock accompanied by Stephen Horne.
In addition to the action on screen, Bo’ness and surrounding attractions took the spotlight, with a series of excursions, events and workshops celebrating the Falkirk region.
Audiences who missed out or those who would like to relive some of the magic of this year’s Festival, are invited to HippFest’s online edition. HippFest at Home will offer a seven-day viewing window of selected events filmed at the Hippodrome Cinema Bo’ness; including the Festival’s opening night feature, Fante-Anne with Dina Konradsen and Jo Einar Tobias Sterten Jansen; Saxophone Susy with Jane Gardner, John Burgess and Hazel Morrison; and The Bat with dazzling accompaniment by multi-instrumentalist Stephen Horne.
HippFest at Home screenings will be available to watch on demand on Monday 30th March – Monday 6th April 2026. Booking for all online events and HippFest at Home Passes closes at midnight on Sunday 29 March.
For the second year, HippFest has partnered with Letterboxd for the annual Letterboxed HippFest Audience Review Awards (LHARAs), offering audiences the opportunity to share their feedback on the films at this year’s Festival, and the chance to win £50 of Hippodrome vouchers to be used at the venue. To be in with a chance of winning, simply submit a review on Letterboxd for any films screened at this year’s Festival with the tag ‘HippFest 2026’. The deadline for submissions is Monday 6th April.
HippFest 2026 took place Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd March 2026 at the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness, Falkirk. The Festival will return next year from Wednesday 17th – Sunday 21st March 2027.
For further information and to sign up to receive news visit http://www.hippfest.co.uk.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 