Since the inception of Silent Cinema in Galway City four years ago, the concept of a festival has been at the heart of our mission. In September 2025, in collaboration with Cinephile Paradiso, we launched Ireland's very first Silent Film Festival in Galway City. The event took place across various venues in Galway, including Massimo, Charlie Byrne's Book Shop, Blue Note, St. Nicholas' Church, and our cinema. We were excited to host in total nearly one thousand eager participants!
The grand finale was hosted at St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, where we screened what is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most visually stunning films ever made, The Passion of Joan of Arc (by C.T. Dreyer, 1928). Our talented resident pianist and flautist, Mila Maia, graciously created an original score for this special event. She composed a profoundly moving piece of music and performed it on the piano at St. Nicholas', accompanied by Michael Chang on violin, which earned a standing ovation from the audience. We combined the audio recording with the film, creating a new soundtrack for Dreyer's masterpiece. You can freely watch and listen to it (see player below).
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the attendees of last year's festival; to the owners and staff of the venues mentioned; to the Galway City Council and private sponsors for their financial support; to the media for spreading the good word; and finally, to our amazing volunteers for all your hard work! This year marks the conclusion of our partnership with Cinephiles. We want to take this moment to thank Holly and Mikey for their collaboration and dedication! We remain committed to making the Silent Film Festival a vibrant annual celebration of this unique, timeless, and boundless art form.
This year, the Silent Film Festival is scheduled to take place in November. Most events will be held in Galway, our beloved hometown, by the restless Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, we hope to share this magical experience with audiences in other towns and cities across Ireland. Keep an eye out, as the full program will be revealed very soon!
