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This year's eleventh international Silent Movie Festival will bring more classics to the silver screen. Main attention goes to legendary director John Ford. Ford became famous for his westerns after the silent era. One of Ford's main actors was John Wayne, who also appeared on some of the silent film era movies. Traditions and Irish humour was vastly present in the movies of American-Irish director, who received an Oscar four times. From the 65 movies he directed in the silent era, only 16 has survived this long. Four of these will be shown on this year's festival. <i>The Shamrock Handicap</i>, <i>Hangman's House</i>, <i>3 Bad Men</i> and <i>The Iron Horse</i> all portray Ford's most beloved themes, Ireland and westerns.

We also honour the actor Lon Chaney. On August 26, day before the festival, will mark exactly 80 years from the actors death. <i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> is a marvellous movie and a perfect example of Chaney's transformation skills. <i>Broken Blossoms</i>, was D.W. Griffith's greatest success, which verified his position within the leading directors of movie industry. Lillian Gish performs brilliantly, complementing fine camerawork and storytelling. Master of comedy, Harold Lloyd is once again present in this year's festival. Eagerly waited movie by Stroheim, <i>Queen Kelly</i> will finally be on the programme. Russian Film Industry is also covered in Lev Kuleshov's visually great movie <i>Mr. West</i>.

As usual, all the movies will be accompanied with live music. This year, the variety of performers is wide: from single musician to an entire sinfony orchestra. Händel -orchestra will accompany festival's climax, <i>The Iron Horse</i> on Sunday.

We've listened to feedback from viewers, and picked the programme according to tips we received. We welcome everyone to the 11th International Silent Film Festival in Forssa Finland to enjoy some of the greatest movies of silent era.

Ville Koivisto

FRIDAY 27.8.
- Mr. West (17:00)
- The Shamrock Handicap (19:30)
- Queen Kelly (21:00)

SATURDAY 28.8.
- Grandma's Boy (12:00)
- Hangman's House (14:30)
- Broken Blossoms (17:00)
- 3 Bad Men (19:30)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (22:00)

SUNDAY 29.8.
- The Iron Horse (13:00)

Homepage: http://www.forssasilentmovie.com/etusivu/

I visited this year's edition and I only can recommend it to you. Forssa is a little town 120 km in the northwest of Helsinki. You can reach it by bus. The movies are shown in a little restored cinema from 1906. The festival has a familiar atmosphere and very kind visitors and organizers. If you can, visit it next year!

I was there in 2005. The village is lovely and the restored theater is stunning. They ran my print of Hunchback there this year. Always nice folks. Try the saunas!