HippFest festival of silent film returns this week, Wed 19 to Sun 23 Mar, at the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness, Scotland’s oldest cinema. The 15th edition of the festival sees such legends as Mary Pickford, Laurel and Hardy, and genius of Buster Keaton, while also exploring the early works of directors like Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford. 

HippFest also dedicates to uncovering rare and little-known gems, some of which haven’t been screened for decades. Here are five upcoming highlights of this year’s festival.

With Reindeer and Sled in Inka Länta’s Winterland (Med ackja och ren i Inka Läntas vinterland – 1926) – Wed 19 Mar, 19:30

Sweeping shots of sledding through snow covered forests sit alongside the everyday domestic rituals of the indigenous people of Sweden in this historic story-documentary. The feature-length earliest example of Sámi life captured on film, With Reindeer and Sled follows Inka Länta and family as they strive to subsist the harsh winter months.

The screening will be accompanied by 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.

Flora Kerrigan – Rediscovering a Film Pioneer – Thu 20 March, 17:30

Discover the darkly comedic and idiosyncratic world of Irish animator Flora Kerrigan with a remarkable collection of silent animation and live-action shorts shot on 8mm film in the 1960s. Recently rediscovered through the Women in Focus Film Archives project, Kerrigan’s animations offer a surreal playfulness that belie the painstaking meticulousness of their production.

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.

What the Water Remembers – The Dark Mirror, Sat 22 Mar, 20:00

HippFest’s co-commission with Flatpack Festival takes audiences to the banks of the canal, weaving a mythological tale inspired by the rich recorded history and transnational 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 – Sun 23 Mar, 10:00

From brand new films, to the next generation of silent film accompanists, New Found Sound invites young musicians from Falkirk district schools to compose, arrange and perform new scores for Scottish archive shorts. This year’s playful compilation is a far from sleepy Sunday morning comedy, with shorts and animations that are bound to tickle your fancy – expect hijacks and high jinks.

Smouldering Fires – 1925, Sun 23 Mar, 17:00

A century before Nicole Kidman appeared in Babygirl (2024), Pauline Frederick plays the female executive in love with a younger employee in this intelligent and remarkably modern workplace romance. Beautifully shot and with an awareness of sexual double-standards, this film is timeless and poignant.