This interview with BFI Curator Edward Anderson was published in conjunction with the screening of the program Around China with a Movie Camera at A Day of Silents 2015 Around China with a Movie Camera contains such a wide variety of footage. How unlikely is it that these kinds of films … [Read more...] about Handheld History
Faces in the Dark
Founders Melissa Chittick and Stephen Salmons Look Back at the Early Days of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival It takes more than a passion for silent film to put on a festival. Melissa Chittick had a film degree from UC-Santa Barbara, and Stephen Salmons had been making Super-8 silent films … [Read more...] about Faces in the Dark
DJ Spooky Mixes It Up for Body and Soul
This interview was published in conjunction with the screening of Body and Soul at SFSFF 2017 As DJ Spooky (That Subliminal Kid), Paul D. Miller has been a trailblazer in the realms of hip hop and trip hop and a master of the remix. He’s also a philosopher, teacher, historian, science fiction … [Read more...] about DJ Spooky Mixes It Up for Body and Soul
Cinema Rediscovered, Italian Style
This interview was published in conjunction with the screening of the restoration of The Cameraman at SFSFF 2019. The Cineteca was the recipient of the 2019 SFSFF Award. Summer nights in Bologna provide wonderful opportunities to watch the Bolognese enjoy their passeggiata or join them in this … [Read more...] about Cinema Rediscovered, Italian Style
Chopin in the Dark: An Interview with Donald Sosin
By any estimation, Donald Sosin has a pretty terrific job. “It beats selling vacuum cleaners,” he joyfully admits. As one of the most accomplished, in-demand, and highly respected composers and performers of silent film scores, his fingers have danced over the piano’s 88 keys in ideal accompaniment … [Read more...] about Chopin in the Dark: An Interview with Donald Sosin
Back to School: Sheldon Mirowitz
This interview was published in conjunction with the screening of The Last Laugh at SFSFF 2015 Professor Sheldon Mirowitz “conducts” the Berklee Silent Film Orchestra Whose palms wouldn’t begin sweating at the thought of a final exam performed in front of a packed house at the Castro Theatre? But … [Read more...] about Back to School: Sheldon Mirowitz
American Symphony
This interview was published in conjunction with the screening of Within Our Gates at SFSFF 2016 Adolphus Hailstork Sets Micheaux to Music A composer faced with creating a new score for Oscar Micheaux’s landmark 1920 film Within Our Gates might be tempted to emulate the emotional and … [Read more...] about American Symphony