Silent Cinema with Live Scores
See classic silent films from across the world, paired with live music scores performed by some of Australia’s leading musician-composers.
For three days this summer, experience a mini open-air film festival with a difference, featuring a program of classic Indian and American silent films with live music accompaniment.
Each of the film’s scores has been composed specifically for each film, and will be performed by the composers and guests, showcasing bluegrass, Butchulla songman and classical Indian styles of music.
With films traversing the spectra of Indian folktales to early Hollywood monster films and Buster Keaton physical comedy classics, this event series is one to entrance film-lovers and music-lovers alike.
Pack a picnic and pull up a deck chair – and join us in celebrating the innovation and magic of the early days of cinema, on the Big Screen.
Presented by Fed Square, in partnership with Insite Arts.
Tuesday 25 February, 8pm | Main Square
Hari Sivanesan and the South Asian Music Ensemble present four Kathas, with an immersive contemporary and classical Indian score. This rare screening includes films directed by India’s most prolific directors of the Silent Cinema Era – Baburao Painter and Dadasaheb Phalke. These films are partially ‘lost’ films, as only parts of them remain. This screening features the remaining film that has been carefully restored and digitised by the National Film Archive of India.
Wednesday 26 February, 8pm | Main Square
The Lost World is a groundbreaking silent film that transports audiences to a realm of prehistoric wonders and perilous adventures. Directed by Harry O. Hoyt and based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, the film follows a daring expedition led by the intrepid Professor Challenger, who is determined to prove the existence of a hidden plateau teeming with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. Leone fuses traditional and contemporary sounds to create an immersive experience of this iconic and thrilling tale, featuring voice, Kuluru (Garrwa language for Yidaki aka Didgeridoo), boomerangs (Bargan in Butchulla language), Emu egg (Ngurunj in Butchulla language), tree branches, sand and other objects.
Thursday 27 February, 8pm | Main Square
A cinema projectionist (Buster Keaton) who reads-up on how to be a detective in his spare time finds himself knee-deep in a mystery when he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Framed and shamed in front of the woman with whom he is besotted, he retreats to a cinematic dreamworld where he can flex his detective muscle. Complete with a slew of physical gags and stunts by Keaton himself, 100 years after its initial release, it’s revered as one of the great silent comedies.
With an uproarious score by gypsy-bluegrass ensemble Blue Grassy Knoll, this special outdoor screening is sure to deliver.
Check out the full program of free live music, outdoor cinema and community events on as part of Open Air in the Square.
