LSFF: What Matters Deafness Of The Ear, When The Mind Hears? A Cinematic Journey Through Silent Film + Panel Discussion

Programmed by Laura Perrachon, LSFF’s Young Programmer in residence, and made possible thanks to support from the BFI Film Festival Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery.

Beginning from the titular Victor Hugo quote, this programme is designed to be accessible to people with hearing impairments as well as hearing audiences, creating a shared and uniquely immersive experience of silent films screening here without accompanying soundtrack. All films are on 35mm and 16mm, including experimental pieces by Hans Richter and Stan Brakhage, the slapstick comedy of Florence Turner's Daisy's Doodad's Dial, and the early work of Cecil Hepworth.

Following the screening, a panel of experts including Bryony Dixon (BFI) and Pamela Hutchinson (Silent London) will dissect the parallels between cinema in the modern and silent era. The panel will be supported by British Sign Language interpreters.