On 18–19 October 2025, the historic Penistone Paramount Theatre will roll out the red carpet for the first-ever Penistone Film Festival – a two-day celebration of silent cinema, live performance, and new independent filmmaking.
The Penistone Paramount, originally opened in 1914 as the Town Hall Pictures, will host an immersive programme that blends the magic of the 1920s with the creativity of today. Audiences can expect silent film screenings with live piano, international film competitions, theatre performances, costumed hosts, and special guests from stage and screen.
Festival highlights include:
– Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman (which we gave a glowing review a couple of years ago) with live piano by acclaimed composer Andy Quin.
– Harold Lloyd’s Bumping Into Broadway, with pre-recorded improvised organ accompaniment by Tom Horton
– Sensory-friendly screenings of Charley Bowers shorts with pre-recorded organ scores by Tom Horton
– Live theatre, dance & comedy
– Clara Bow in It, with live music by Andy Quin.
– Hollywood stunt demo
– Filmmaker Competitions with categories including The Buster (Keaton-inspired shorts), Story in 60, Animation/Stop Motion, Home of Football, and local student awards.
– International Submissions with filmmakers travelling from across the UK, USA, New Zealand, and Australia to attend.
– Awards Ceremony featuring unique prizes: 100-year-old Sheffield pewter tankards, repurposed and engraved for the winning filmmakers.
The festival has already attracted major names:
– Tony Currie, Sheffield United football legend, supporting the “Home of Football” film category, and our link to Sheffield as the Home Of Football.
– Ian Puleston-Davies, acclaimed actor, lending his voice to the celebrations, will be attending.
– Michael C. Williams, star of The Blair Witch Project, among the festival’s supporters, encouraged filmakers to use their phones to make a film.
– David Meanti, Emmy-nominated producer, serving as a judge, attending our Sunday awards event.
– The International Buster Keaton Society, appearing for a talk and audience Q&A, as well as joint judge with Jadey Duffield, art in action director, serving as judges for the art in action Buster film making award
– Buster Keaton’s great granddaughter, Keaton Talmadge, is also supporting the festival in honour of her legendary Great Grandfather. With a personal video message to the winning filmmakers of the Buster award.
– Even Hollywood actor David Arquette has shared the festival encouraging fans to get involved & to attend. With an interest in attending a future edition.
And not forgetting Olivia Colman, who once joked in an interview that she hoped “Penistone” was a real place because she wanted to holiday there. When invited, her agent replied that Olivia was “absolutely thrilled that Penis Town is in fact a real place.” Sadly, filming commitments mean she won’t be attending this year, but her delight at Penistone’s name is already part of festival lore.
Adding to the atmosphere, audiences are encouraged to attend in 1920s costume, with roaming performances from theatre troupe Fools Talk Theatre, a vintage-style photo booth, and themed immersive actors transforming the Paramount into a time capsule of cinema’s golden age. Which isn’t difficult to do as the venue still looks very much like it did 100 years ago!
Festival Director Jennifer Bulcock said:
“The Paramount is one of the oldest working cinemas in the country that has been continuously open. This festival is about honouring its history while celebrating creativity from all over the world. It’s incredible to see filmmakers travelling to Penistone from as far as America, while our community comes together in costume to keep the magic of the silent era alive.”
You can find out more information and book tickets at the Penistone Paramount website.
If you want to hear some of the Blueprint: Review team profess their love for silent comedy, you can listen back to our special podcast.
