HippCast

The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival
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The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (HippFest) is Scotland's first and only festival of silent film with live music. This brand new podcast features insights from a variety of HippFest evndeavours: Q&As with performers, interviews with archivists, and plenty of other fascinating conversations about archive cinema. We hope you enjoy tuning in!

  1. Jul 31

    Feminist film historiographies: in conversation with Kate Saccone

    Our podcast guest this month is none other than the wonderful Kate Saccone! Kate is a film curator, scholar, and editor based in Amsterdam. She received her PhD from the University of Amsterdam in May 2026. She is the project manager and an editor of The Women Film Pioneers Project and currently serves as board president of Women and Film History International. In this month's episode Kate and Christina, our HippFest Digital Content Manager, chat about the breadth of Kate’s expertise, feminist historiographies, and the twin joys and challenges of uncovering and re-learning how we think about early cinema. As Kate states in the show, silent film culture is really thriving, and thus the conversation features a host of excellent recommendations for films, film-makers, organisations, research and other enticing silent era thought-threads. Make sure to check the links below for all the resources mentioned throughout, and as always, a full English transcript of the conversation is available here. Happy listening! Relevant links (orgs, events): Women Film Pioneers Project Overview EssaysFollow Women Film Pioneers Project on Bluesky Follow Women Film Pioneers Project on FacebookInfo on the upcoming 2027 conference Women and the Silent Screen XIII, “Transitions,” June 8-11, 2027Upcoming 2026 online event Entr'acte, November 6 - 7, 2026Follow Women and Film History International on Bluesky Follow Women and Film History International on InstagramEnter the inaugural ⁠Women and Film History International Student Project Award ⁠(deadline September 15th)Relevant links (films, people, texts) Fatma Begum's Pioneer ProfileNina Niovilla's Pioneer Profile, director of Youth Triumphs/Młodość Zwycięża (1923)Mabel Normand's Pioneer ProfileGene Gauntier's Pioneer ProfileAlma Reville's Pioneer ProfileAlma Reville: in the shadow of Hitchcock? presented by Dr Josephine BottingMore info on Adam and Eve/Adam a Eva (1922)Watch Adam and Eve/Adam a Eva (1922) at Bonn Stummfilmtage Pamela Hutchinson's The Curse of Queen KellyKaren Pearlman's Breaking PlatesKino Lorber's Pioneers: First Women FilmmakersKino Lorber's Cinema's First Nasty Women boxset Watch on YouTube: Lois Weber's Suspense (1913)Watch on YouTube: Florence Turner's Daisy Doodad's Dial (1914)

  2. Jun 26

    Filmhouse are turning one!

    Filmhouse are turning one! Technically tomorrow (Saturday 27 June 2026), but who's counting? In today's show we hear from Program Manager Raymah Tariq, who reflects on the first year since re-opening in June 2025. The discussion includes a peek behind-the-scenes at programming strategy, Filmhouse first birthday celebrations and the 'We Have A Cinema And We're Not Afraid To Use It' strand, and how silent film/ wider repertory cinema fits into contemporary scheduling. Additional reading/ relevant links: Access a full english transcript of this conversation here.Filmhouse first birthday party (Saturday 27 June)! Filmhouse birthday programme: We've Got A Cinema And We're Not Afraid To Use ItFilmhouse birthday programme: Team Birthday PicksFilmhouse birthday programme: Top Filmhouse FilmsMore info about Filmhouse Birthday programme and ticketing

  3. May 31

    Ben Model's Silent Film Universe

    In this month's episode we speak to silent film polymath Ben Model, discussing his recent publication The Silent Film Universe. Digital Content Manager Christina had just finished reading when she spoke to Ben,  and picked out a couple of chapters from which to discuss a few key themes: audience participation in creating the story, text in silent film, and the undercranking phenomena: all about film speeds in filming and projection. Please enjoy! Additional reading/ relevant links: A full English transcript of this episode is available here.Visit Ben's websiteBuy the book, The Silent Film UniverseListen to Ben's podcast: The Silent Film Music PodcastRead Ben's blog (including 'The Language of Silent Film' posts mentioned)Browse the wares at Undercrank Productions (*sale in June 2026!*)More about Ernie Kovacs and Edie AdamsCatch up with previous episodes of The Silent Comedy Watch PartyMentioned in the show: Marketing Without the Marketing with Michael BoeziMentioned in the show: Akimbo: a podcast from Seth GodinWowHDP.S Yes we do have a new musical hook! Wee musical excerpts at the episode start and finish are from our HippFest at Home presentation of Saxophone Susy, with as-live accompaniment from: Jane Gardner (piano), Hazel Morrison (percussion), John Burgess (saxophone, clarinet).

  4. Apr 30

    Young voices on 'old cinema'... again again!

    After a brief podcast break to deliver HippFest 2026, we're back in the audiosphere with the third iteration of our Young voices on 'old cinema' mini-series, featuring thoughts and reflections from some of our young attendees. In this month's release we hear from Kitty Volino, a 19-year-old student who tuned in online from the Scottish Borders, plus 16-year-old Izzie Middleton, who joined us in-person in beautiful Bo'ness. Expect discussion on the whole gamut of silent film viewing - the combination of music and film, silent era happy endings, the feeling of 'watching together', intertitles, tinting, Baby Peggy - plus some stranger tangents (yes, Christina does mention Married At First Sight). Enjoy! Additional reading/ relevant links: A full transcript of this episode is available hereMore information about Young ScotCaptain January (novel) Wikipedia page, as discussedTweet: Clip of Buster Keaton stunts alongside 'how it's made', as discussedListen to our 2025 'Young voices' episodeListen to our 2024 'Young voices' episode P.S Yes we do have a new musical hook! Wee musical excerpts at the episode start and finish are from our HippFest at Home presentation of Saxophone Susy, with as-live accompaniment from: Jane Gardner (piano), Hazel Morrison (percussion), John Burgess (saxophone, clarinet).

  5. Feb 27

    HippFest 2026 Programme Picks

    Can you BELIEVE it's only a matter of weeks before our sixteenth edition kicks off? Well believe it or not, it's true - and in preparation for last-minute booking quandaries we've prepared another Programme Picks episode to tempt you. This year Digital Content Manager Christina Webber chats to The Skinny's Jamie Dunn and captain of the Hipp-ship, Festival Director Alison Strauss, to drill down into some of the silent titles most-anticipated coming up in 2026. Which Sherlock Holmes is Jamie's favourite? Where is our Norwegian-ceilidh-club night? Which films have our students selected to work with for New Found Sound? And how many films HAD Baby Peggy starred in when shooting Captain January (1924)? All these questions and plenty more throughout the show. If curious, the films selected by Jamie Dunn include: The Crowd (1928), The Bat (1926), The White Heather (1919), and Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases. HippFest's own Alison Strauss chooses to speak about Fante-Anne (1920), New Found Sound, April Fool (1926), Captain January (1924), and Apart From You (1933). Additional reading/ relevant links: Full English transcript of this episode available here.Jamie Dunn's HippFest 2026 preview in The SkinnyListen to The Skinny's film podcast, The CineskinnyMore information on HippFest 2026 Festival PassesSee the full HippFest 2026 programmeProgramme notes for The Bat (1926) by Allan HunterProgramme notes for Apart From You (1933) by Kelly RobinsonProgramme notes for The Crowd (1928) by David CairnsProgramme notes for Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases by Bryony DixonProgramme notes for The White Heather (1919) by Kathy Rose O'ReganWatch Maurice Tourneur: Franco-American Film Pioneer

  6. Jan 31

    HippFest x Cinetopia: a new soundscape for Finis Terrae (1929)

    Happy new year HippCasters! We're back in the audiosphere with a brand new episode inspired by the premiere of a new music commission for Jean Epstein's Finis Terrae (1929), premiering at HippFest 2026. Digital Content Manager Christina Webber catches up with Cinetopia's Amanda Rogers, plus musicians Dan Abrahams and Philippe Boudot as they begin creating a brand new soundscape for this film, set on a bleak island off the Breton coast. The film’s visual style, rich in atmosphere, and with a dual sense of menace and beauty, is an exciting invitation to the musicians whose folk-infused score will illuminate the thrilling elemental rhythm of this land and seascape. The Finis Terrae project is produced by Cinetopia in collaboration with the Edinburgh Film Guild. It is funded by Cockaigne Fund, administered by Foundation Scotland, and with support from the Hope Scott Trust and Help Musicians. We are excited to host the world premiere of this new music commission as part of HippFest 2026. Enjoy the show! P.S Love HippCast? Please follow us on Spotify, or send your favourite episode to a friend. It helps! Additional reading/relevant links Full speaker bios and an English transcript of this episode are available hereBook tickets for the premiere of Finis Terrae (18 March) at HippFest 2026Cinetopia: Scotland's Film CommunityMore info on Cinetopia's project I Ken Whaur I'm GuanMore info on purchasing a HippFest 2026 Festival PassStay in touch with Dan Abrahams and Philippe BoudotMore info about ⁠Dowally⁠ (Dan Abrahams and Rachel Petyt)

  7. 2025-12-18

    'Silent' night: visualising a Victorian Christmas

    It's that time of year again! In today's episode - a festive special featuring plenty of yule tide tangents - we talk to author Sarah Cook about 'silent' Christmas. Digital Content Manager Christina Webber has questions: were Christmas movies a thing in the silent era? Would we recognise some of the tropes of today's Christmas film in the movies made a century ago? And why does the iconography of a Victorian Christmas still have such a hold on our imaginations? Listen along to Episode 31 to hear about all this and more. As another tempting teaser, Sarah also shares a little bit with us on 'creepy' Christmas - see below - and we've included a plethora of additional reading and viewing links in the show notes in case your interest is suitably piqued...Additional reading/ relevant links: Read the full English transcript of this episodeRead 'The best Christmas films of the Silent Era' by Sarah Cook (courtesy of Film Stories)Watch Santa Claus (1898) on BFI PlayerWatch Harold Shaw's A Christmas Carol (1914) on BFI PlayerWatch The Night Before Christmas (1913) on YouTubeWatch HippFest at Home: 'A New Look at Our Oldest Films', an illustrated presentation on Victorian film made for HippFest 2024 by Bryony DixonRead more about the portrait commissioned by Prince Albert in 1848 (courtesy of the V&A)A great Christmas film every year from 1925 to now (courtesy of the BFI)More information on purchasing a HippFest 2026 Festival Pass

  8. 2025-11-27

    Laraine Porter: How cinema transitioned to the '30s

    We mark our 30th episode by inviting independent researcher Laraine Porter onto the podcast to chat with Digital Content Manager Christina about what was going on in the film world on either side of, you guessed it, 1930. The cusp of the 'thirties was a pivotal moment for cinema, with synchronised sound radically changing operations across production and exhibition. Previously loud and boisterous sets had to adapt to operating in silence, and picture houses across the world had to make way for a whole new technology. The discussion ranges from the 'talkies' to the 'singies' and the goat gland films, and considers why some stars ended up as casualties of this seismic revolution. Additional links: ⁠A selection of Laraine's Porter's writing on this subject⁠⁠Listen to Episode 23 to learn more about Hitchcock's (silent) heroines⁠⁠Watch 'Alma Reville: in the shadow of Hitchcock?'⁠Read the full English transcript of this episode About the speaker: Laraine Porter is an independent researcher and Associate Fellow at DeMontfort University, University of Exeter and Bristol University. She was the co-founder and co-director of the British Silent FIlm Festival which ran between 1998 and 2019 and now runs as annual events at the Cinema Museum and Kings College in London. Between 2014 and 2019, Porter ran a major research project on British Silent Cinema and the Transition to Sound, and has written several journal articles on this subject.

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About

The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (HippFest) is Scotland's first and only festival of silent film with live music. This brand new podcast features insights from a variety of HippFest evndeavours: Q&As with performers, interviews with archivists, and plenty of other fascinating conversations about archive cinema. We hope you enjoy tuning in!

Information

  • Creator
    The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival
  • Show Website
    HippCast