Penistone Film Festival
2025
Where Every Frame Tells a Story
Calling All Creatives -
Celebrating All Filmmakers
CELEBRATE CREATIVITY
Step into the world of visual storytelling—where images, movement, and music say more than words.
PUSH THE BOAT OUT
ON SILENT FILM
The Penistone Silent Film Festival offers filmmakers, musicians, and artists the chance to push creative boundaries and be part of a revival of silent cinema.
Why Should You Submit Your Film?
Pair your film with optional live musical accompaniment – Just like the golden age of cinema!
Compete for prestigious awards – Cinematography, Direction, Music, Stunts & Performance
Get your work judged by industry professionals, including Emmy-nominated producer David Meanti
Q&A Sessions – Engage with audiences & fellow talented filmmakers
1920s Immersive Experience – Step into the golden age with period costumes & live action scenes
SUBMIT YOUR FILM
Take the challenge. Captivate audiences. Be part of the silent film revival. Local students submit for FREE!
All Visitors Are Welcome To Our Festival -
Celebrate Visual Storytelling with Us!
SAVE THE DATE!
Find us at Penistone Paramount on October 18-19, 2025 for our Silent Film Festival!
A two-day celebration of the origins of the motion picture industry. With silent cinema, live music, vintage glamour, theatrical performances, immersive actors, and visual storytelling – all hosted here at the historic Penistone Paramount theatre.
From Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd & Clara Bow to modern stunt demonstrations, contemporary organ concert, and TikTok style filmmakers, this is a festival that bridges the past and present – inviting a new generation to engage with art through film, music, comedy, stunts, and creativity.
🎟️ Concession prices for:
Under 25s, Students, Seniors 65+, Registered Disabled, or Low-Income Support
(evidence required)
Ticket Options
🎟️ VIP All-Access Weekend Pass
£50 Standard £30 Concession
Free for registered Carers
Only 60 available – includes:
• Early entry from 9am (both days)
• VIP seat reservation using your headrest cover and lanyard
• Access to all events
• Exclusive VIP gift bag (see below)
VIP passes are the only way to reserve your seat for the 2 day event – all other tickets have unallocated seating.
🎟️ Saturday Day Pass (limited to 60)
£35 Standard | £20 Concession | Free for Carers
• Doors open at 9:30am
• Unreserved seating
• Access to all Saturday events
🎟️ Sunday Day Pass (limited capacity)
£25 Standard | £15 Concession | Free for Carers
• Doors open at 9:30am
• Unreserved seating
• Access to all Sunday events
Note: Sunday is one full-day ticket and will not be split into individual sessions.
Festival Ends at 3:00pm
Saturday 18th October – Full Day Programme
Feel free to dress as a character or in vintage-inspired costume – prizes for best costumes will be awarded randomly throughout the day!
• 10:00am – Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman
Live piano by Andy Quin (Boardwalk Empire, Victoria & Abdul, Better Call Saul)
• Special Presentation
Talk by the International Buster Keaton Society: The Hidden Language of Silent Film
• Harold Lloyd’s Bumping Into Broadway
With pre-recorded improvised organ accompaniment by Tom Horton
• Live Theatre & Comedy
“Against the Clock!” – a two-act comedy show by Fools Talk Theatre: a high-energy tribute to Harold Lloyd and the silent film icons of the 1920s
• Sensory-Friendly Screenings
Three surreal Charley Bowers shorts with pre-recorded organ scores by Tom Horton
Plus an educational talk from Matthew Ross at The Lost Laugh Comedy Club
• Local History Connection
Discover Penistone’s link to Sheffield and the birth of modern football
(Hint: check the historic graves just across the road)
• All-Day Attractions
Art stalls, food vendors, vintage photo booth (prints included), costume competitions, immersive actors.
Keep an eye out for our uninvited little tramp and his nemesis – a very strict ex-Keystone Cop security guard…
• Filmmaker Screenings
Watch selected entries from our silent film competition throughout the day
• Evening Feature: Clara Bow in IT
With live music by Andy Quin. The film that inspired a Taylor Swift song – and a MIGHTY musical finale to Saturday!
Sunday 19th October – Golden Age of Hollywood Awards Day
Dress to impress in your best Art Deco-inspired 1920s outfit – we’ll be awarding surprise prizes throughout the day!
• Roaming Performer
A vintage stilt walker adds some elevated elegance to the atmosphere
• 10:00am – Opening Performance
Live flapper girls Charleston dance to open the day
• Matt Walters aka @Reductio – A Cinematic Organ Concert.
We’re thrilled to present a specially filmed performance created just for Penistone Film Festival by young organist Matt Walters, Organ Scholar at Downside Abbey, he’s become an online sensation with his modern twists playing his traditional instrument.
Immersive visuals, with organ music as Matt transitions through the decades. Ending with a, not-to-be-missed contemporary organ mix!It’ll feel like he’s right there in the room. Young and young-at-heart alike won’t believe their ears…!
• Meet the Judges & Filmmakers
Hear from our panel, winning filmmakers, and members of the British Stunt Register. Also a message from Buster Keatons Great granddaughter in LA for one lucky filmmaker.
• HOLLYWOOD Stunt Demo by BSR Performers
From equestrian stunt-work and martial arts to screen combat – up close and in action.
(No horses inside – we checked!) Find out what it takes to be a stunt artist.
• Filmmaker Showcase & Awards Ceremony
Celebrate the winners of our
silent-style short film competition winners screening and presentation.
• Closing Talk
We hand over to the Penistone Cinema Organ Trust for a fascinating insight into the history and legacy of the mighty Compton organ.
• Event Wrap-Up at 3:00pm
But stick around for the separately ticketed Phantom of the Opera screening, with Donald MacKenzie performing LIVE on the Compton organ – This is a separate “Penistone Cinema Organ Trust” event.
VIP Gift Bag Includes:
• Reusable lidded festival cup
• Reusable popcorn tub (pre-filled)
• Can of American cream soda
• Yorkshire tea sample
• Mini bottle of Henderson’s Relish (glass)
• VIP lanyard, wristband & seat headrest cover
• Festival pen
• Printed programme (designed by a local artist) with space for your notes
♿ Accessibility
We are committed to making this event inclusive:
• BSL interpreters at all major events
• A full access guide and venue walkthrough video will be released soon
• Wheelchair spaces are limited – please email in advance to reserve
• Free carer places available with advance request
📧 boxoffice@theparamount.co.uk
🎟️ Concession eligibility includes:
Under 25s, Students, Seniors 65+, Registered Disabled, or Low-Income Support
📩 Please email proof at least 7 days before the event
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN CINEMA MAGIC
Experience the magic of silent cinema as it was meant to be seen—on the big screen, with live music, in an authentic 1920s setting.
What's On At The Festival?
SATURDAY
Filmmaker Showcases
Watch modern silent film masterpieces
Industry Talks
Insights from experts on film history, scoring & storytelling- including the official BUSTER KEATON SOCIETY
Classic Silent Films
Featuring legendary works from Harold Lloyd, Charlie Bowers and Clara Bow
Live Performances
1920s actors, period reenactments & interactive scenes. Including Fools Talk Theatre!
Local Art Stalls & Vintage Photography
A celebration of creative heritage
SUNDAY
M
Matt Walters aka Reductio Music immersive cinematic concert
A specially recorded concert for the festival. From 1920s to modern day clubbing and dance prepare to be amazed at this modern twist using the Organ, specially recorded to be screened just for us!
.............
Awards Ceremony
Honouring the best silent filmmakers of today and all our talented festival filmmakers.
Submit your film to enter here!
Live British Stunt Register show
Demonstrations and presentations from our British Stunt Register panel guests. Watch a fully choreographed stunt and learn from the pros, who have worked in on Hollywood movies
1920s Costume Contest
Bring the 1920s into the 2020s by donning your best flapper dresses and slapshoes for a chance to win some fabulous prizes! Don't forget your cloche hats and fedoras too!
Fun for Everyone
Celebrate original & modern filmmakers!
Celebrate Your Interests At Our Festival!
For Sports & Football Fans
Home of Football Film Category
Did you know Penistone helped shape modern football?
In the 1840s and 50s, informal football games in Penistone helped inspire the founding of Sheffield FC (1857), the world’s first football club.
Celebrate The Beautiful Game
We’re inviting filmmakers to bring this untold story to life—from Rev. Samuel Sunderland’s school matches to football’s first pioneers, John Charles Shaw & John Marsh.
Showcase Your Filmmaking
Winning films will be showcased at the festival, ensuring this rich football history is preserved for new generations!
For Local History Lovers
Join Us at Penistone Paramount
The Penistone Silent Film Festival is more than just cinema—it’s a journey through time! Be a part of history and celebrate Penistone's creative heritage in one of the UK’s oldest operating cinemas!
Celebrate Local Heritage
Discover railways, farming and industry, the backdrop to Penistone’s rich cultural past, and celebrate regional artists with local art stalls and vintage photography.
Silent Film: A Timeless Artform
Silent cinema bridges past and present, showcasing the timeless power of visual storytelling. Experience it as originally seen with live Compton Organ accompaniment!
For Cosplayers & Vintage Fans
Dress to Impress
1920s Attire Encouraged!
Whether you love flapper dresses, silent film icons, or classic suits, this is your chance to step into the golden age of cinema!
Vintage Photography Booth
Capture your 1920s moment and step into 1925 at the Penistone Film Festival!
Live Actors & Re-Enactments
Step into a classic silent film and watch as the movies come to life around you.
1920s Period Costume Contest
Win prizes for the best vintage look!
What's Happening In The Community?
Penistone Film Festival: Bringing Our Community Together Through Historic Cinema.
BUSTER KEATON IS MISSING!!
Somewhere in Penistone, Buster Keaton has vanished and we need YOUR help to find him!
- Snap a pic or video of him
- Post it on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook
Tag us where you found him
– Use #DamfinoPenistone
5 lucky winners will get a FULL VIP ALL-ACCESS PASS to the festival!
Already bought your pass? No problem if you win, we’ll refund it!
So get searching and help us FIND BUSTER!
PENISTONE SHARING SHELF
Located at Penistone Leisure Centre, the Penistone Sharing Shelf is a community bookcase mural celebrating the town’s stories, history, and creativity. Created by local artist LJayBee Illustrations as part of Barnsley Council’s Storying Barnsley project, the Sharing Shelf is a space for locals to:
- Swap books
- Share zines
- Contribute artwork inspired by Penistone
CREATE YOUR OWN SILENT FILMS
As part of Penistone Film Festival, we’re introducing a DIY Silent Film Zine, designed to inspire young people to create their own silent films! This hands-on guide includes:
- Fun activities to spark creativity
- Simple craft materials to help bring film ideas to life
- Step-by-step guidance to make a silent movie at home
Zines created in local workshops will be displayed on the Sharing Shelf, connecting the community through film, art, and storytelling.
Pick up your DIY Silent Film Kit and be part of the festival!
Support the Festival
YOUR SUPPORT IS INVALUABLE
The Penistone Silent Film Festival is a grassroots event celebrating film, history & creativity. Every bit of support is greatly appreciated and used to hold more fantastic silent film events! Whether You wish to donate or make a purchase of one of our exclusive souvenirs - every penny goes directly back into making this event a success, supporting the community and artists. Both locally, and globally.
DONATE
or
BUY MERCH!
Help us keep the magic alive! Every contribution and purchase supports independent filmmakers, local artists, and live cinema events.
