About Us
What does South West Silents do?
South West Silents celebrates the history of cinema and shares its founders' passion for silent film with the wider cinema-going audience not only in the South West of England but throughout the United Kingdom. The past 15 years have seen the history of early cinema, and the silent era in particular, become more and more popular with general cinema going audiences. However, more needs to be done…
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With expert knowledge of pre-sound cinema, several years’ experience programming silent film events in and around Bristol, with extensive contacts in both the global network of film archives as well as with several film accompanist, we aim to be the first and best point of contact for all matters involving silent cinema in the region.
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South West Silents continues to give audiences the chance to discover brilliant silent films by introducing new and younger audiences to the wonder of silent cinema, through screenings, educational programmes and highlighting new restorations. We have a strong feel for independent cinema and a real passion for unique and brilliant silent cinema.
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In autumn 2021 South West Silents launched a new spin-off company Film Noir UK a group dedicated to the films of film noir.
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Just like South West Silents’ commitment to bringing the very best of silent film titles to new audiences. Film Noir's key objective is to celebrate the best and less well known film noir titles from the 1940s and 1950s and showcase them on the big screen with the best restorations from around the world.
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But Film Noir UK is not just about the great films released during the classic era of film noir. We will also highlight films that influenced the world of film noir as well as the titles that would later be influenced by these great films.