Tag Archives: End of year poll

The Silent London Poll of 2020: And the winners are …

January 26, 2021 PH Leave a comment

So, 2020 wasn’t a standard year by any stretch, but instead of giving up on the Poll I decided to go ahead with it, to celebrate all the people who kept silent film culture alive in the midst of a global pandemic. And you clearly agreed, because I had far more votes to count this year than last. Here are your winners!

Best real-world silent film screening of 2020

None of us got to the pictures as much as we would have liked in 2020, but nevertheless there were some choice events nominated in this category. Your favourite? Filibus, presented by Hippfest at the The Barony Community Theatre in Bo’ness with accompaniment by Jane Gardner (piano) and Hazel Morrison (percussion).

• Honourable mentions: The Big Parade with Neil Brand at BFI Southbank and Tatjana with John Sweeney at The Kennington Bioscope.

2. Best online SILENT FILM SCREENING OF 2020

Did we ever think we would get used to streaming silents so much? Or that the quality of presentation and music could be *this* good? This was a hotly contested category, but the winner is Penrod & Sam, with Stephen Horne, presented as part of the Pordenone Silent Film Festival online.

As I wrote at the time: “A delightful film, and beautifully accompanied, it left me with just one poignant thought – that this sort of caper is exactly, exactly the kind of film that comes alive when watched with a crowd. The laughter and tears might be heard ‘as deep down as China and as far back as the alley’.”

Honourable mention: Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde with Neil Brand, presented by Hippfest at Home.

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The Silent London Poll of 2017: vote now!

December 1, 2017 PH 2 Comments

It’s the first day of December, which means two things. Number one, don’t forget to light the advent candle tonight. Two, it’s time to open the Silent London Poll.

Maison-du-mystere — The House of Mystery

You’ve got plenty of time to think about your choices this year – the poll will be open for the next three weeks. But remember that every vote counts.

Are you struggling to remember the festivals, films, and music that you loved the most in 2017? Well take a look back through the pages of Silent London, or the Silent Film Calendar or ithankyou, both of which sites kept up to date with silent happenings all year round.

Remember also that I want to hear about home video releases and books as well as screenings and festivals. And modern silents too – the world didn’t end in 1927.

DietrichCROP — The Woman Men Yearn For (1929)

Leicester you forget, settle down to fill in the survey with a Hipp soundtrack, and perhaps glass of Italian wine, maybe a Shiraz, and try to remember the films and events that changed your appreciation of silent cinema this year. There were laughs. There were tears. There was even a hint of revolution in the air.

As is now traditional, I’m asking for your Silent Hero, and at the suggestion of Mr John Sweeney, I’ll be asking for your favourite intertitle of the year too – just one that made the biggest impression on you.

Don’t be afraid to lobby for your favourites, or to vote for events outside the UK. The poll is now a global affair and the more votes the merrier. Sharing is caring!

Follow this link to fill in the survey – or scroll down and get started straight away.

Poll

The Silent London 2011 Poll: nominations please

December 4, 2011 PH 27 Comments

It’s not over yet, but 2011 has been a stonking year for silent film with live music in the UK. We’ve had orchestras, skiffle bands, sitars, string quartets and even piano accompaniment, alongside some wonderful films. As is now traditional (almost) I want to celebrate this by asking you for your highlights of the year.

What were the standout silent film and live music shows for you in 2011? The Passion of Joan of Arc with Adrian Utley and Will Gregory’s rock score, or Voices of Light? The BBC Symphony Orchestra playing Neil Brand’s wonderful score for Underground? Stephen Horne’s London Film Festival Archive Gala performance of The First Born? Perhaps you preferred the Dodge Brother’s skiffle soundtrack for Beggars of Life or The Ghost That Never Returns. Maybe you were lucky enough to catch a live performance of Simon Fisher Turner’s experimental music for The Great White Silence, or one of many shows from last year’s winners, Minima. And let’s not forget John Garden’s tour of The Lost World or the Elysian Quartet’s reconstructed score for The Old and the New. There are, of course, far too many to mention here – you may have heard an organ score in a cathedral or museum that you liked, or a piano accompaniment in the BFI that was particularly memorable.

What I’d like to do is to collect your nominations for your favourite show in the UK this year and then I’ll be running a poll on the website in a fortnight’s time. It’s kind of like The X Factor, but not much. So, please, nominate your favourite shows in the comments below, or get in touch on Facebook or Twitter. I can’t wait to find out what you’ve chosen!

Nominations close at noon on Sunday 18 December and the poll should go live on Monday morning.

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