Festival Guests Include...
Neil Brand
Neil is one of the finest exponents of improvised silent film accompaniment in the world, pianist and composer Neil Brand has been accompanying silent films for over 19 years. This year, Neil is co-ordinating THE PRIMA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB as they prepare their new score for our opening gala event.
Go to the Neil Brand website >>
Gunter A Buchwald
Conductor, violinist, pianist and composer Regularly a guest at international film festivals. Uniquely he is able to accompany simultaneously with piano and the Violin! Gunter joins THE PRIMA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB for our opening Gala event and will accompany on piano and violin throughout the festival.
Go to the Stummfilmmusik website >>
Peter Lord
Long-time Buster Keaton fan Peter Lord is co-founder of Aardman Animations, the Bristol based animation company whose credits include the latest Wallace and Gromit movie. Peter is a life long honorary member of Bristol Silents and will be introducing us to the delights of silent animator Charley Bowers during Lost Laughs II on Sunday.
Go to the Aardman Animations website >>
Paul Merton
Our resident host for the weekend. We are delighted to welcome back Paul who is a huge silent comedy fan. His energy and enthusiasm for the era is infectious.
Paul McGann
Actor Paul McGann is another a silent film fan and a regular contributor to Bristol Silents events. He performs at our special opening Gala event with The Matinee Idles, a live acapella group, which also includes ex-members of 'Darts', the doo-wop group who had a string of chart hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Paul also has chosen a film for Sunday's Lost Laughs panel.
Matinee Idles
Remember 'Darts'? DARTS were a nine-strong doo-wop group whose brand of visual excitement and tight harmonies earned them rave reviews wherever they played. They had a string of chart hits in the late seventies and early eighties selling millions of singles and charting three number twos in a row. They were one of the most successful touring bands of their period. Original band members Den Hegarty and Griff Fender re-unite with fellow ex-Darts member Pikey Butler to perform a selection of acapella numbers at our special opening gala event at Colston Hall. They are joined by acclaimed actor Paul McGann who performed with Darts in the eighties with 'The McGann Brothers' during a successful run of the west end musical Yakedy Yak. Debbie Charles from the excellent 'MJs' completes the five piece vocal line up. Back by popular demand following their appearance at Slapstick's opening event at Colston Hall we can expect more of their unique brand of a capella vocal and accompanying more silent clowns.
Go to the Darts website >>
David Robinson
Bristol Silents patron David is Pordenone Film Festivals ' Creative Director, a film critic, author and film historian. David has been one of Bristol Silents greatest supporters and will be hosting three events for us over the weekend, two with his dear friend Diana Serra Cary.
Pordenone Silent Film Festival website >>
Diana Serra Cary
As the brilliant child star "Baby Peggy", Diana was a major figure in silent movies in the early 1920s, a serious rival to the legendary Jackie Coogan in the affections of the silent movie public. We are thrilled to welcome Diana, one of the last living links with silent comedy to be our special guest for 2006.
David Wyatt
Author, researcher and programmer. David is a champion of silent comedy having programmed comedy seasons for the national film theatre and various festivals around the world. David has worked hard to bring us rare gems from all over the world in his Lost Laughs programme.