NSFF2024
What it is and how to get involved
Northern Silent Film Festival is a month-long, collaborative celebration of live-scored film, taking place each autumn. The second edition will run from 28th September to 31st October 2024.
Participation in NSFF is open to venues, organisations, and individuals anywhere in the North of England. Enquiries and event proposals are welcome at any time. All kinds of proposals are welcome - as long as they involve a combination of film and live music/sound. There are no limitations on the kind of music/sound/film you work with - we’re open to all genres and approaches.
How does it all work?
NSFF is a collaborative festival. Northern Silents produces around a dozen festival events itself, and we invite event proposals from venues, organisations, and individuals anywhere in the north of England. All of these events are assembled into a month-long festival. There is no hierarchy to the festival programme; volunteer-led groups and professional theatres, cinemas and music venues sit side-by-side in the programme, and Northern Silents’ own events mix with the events produced by other presenters.
Each presenting partner funds and organises their own event, and Northern Silent Film Festival contributes supporting activity, including listings on the festival website, a printed festival brochure, a festival video trailer, social media assets, and other marketing activities. NSFF’s marketing focuses on the festival as a whole, with each presenter then responsible for their own local marketing. Each event will be included equally in the festival brochure - funded organisations will be asked to contribute a small amount to the costs of its production and it will be free for unfunded/volunteer-led groups.
Looking for programming ideas? We’ve put together a few themes and film suggestions here.
These are suggestions only and we welcome all proposals whether or not they align with festival themes or suggested programming.
Each presenter has the freedom to choose their own musical approach, and Northern Silents will assist if necessary. We’ll shortly publish a UK-wide directory of silent film musicians, or, if you’d like us to supply a musician from our stable of players, we can do that.
Will Northern Silents fund our event?
Northern Silents has no permanent, core funding - we apply for project funding and have had support from Arts Council England, Film Hub North, and various other grant-giving bodies. We hope to have a small budget to assist unfunded, volunteer-led groups to pay a musician but these funds will be very limited. In general, each presenter must secure their own funding.
Will Northern Silents help us?
Northern Silents is a freelance organisation without permanent staff or core funding. We are happy to help and advise unfunded, volunteer-led community groups without any charge. For funded organisations with paid staff, we’re happy to have an initial, free consultation via Zoom. If you'd like more support from us - whether that’s programming, marketing, or music - let us know your needs and we will quote a modest fee.
