Centred around an historic early 20th Century cinema the Forssa Silent Film Festival creates a sense of nostalgia

The third Forssa Silent Film Festival has established a reputation for providing a versatile programme. Buster Keaton, Noidan Kirot by Teuvo Puro, Mustalaishurmaaja by Valentin Vaala all enjoy a unique venue; a 96year old cinema, one of the oldest in the world and the centre of the festival.

The festival is divided between four different venues at various locations around Forssa; the recently renovated historic cinema, the community centre, theatre and Bio-Kaari. The festival information centre and restaurant tent are located on idyllic Keskuskatu further adding to the feeling of nostalgia for decades past. Local enthusiasts will be hosting a classic car and motorbike show old wooden town. An integral part of the Festival is the traditional Library Night held in the courtyard of the Textile Mill. A lit path leads you from the Mill to the cinema where the theme for Mill night is "Literature and movie".

Live entertainment forms a significant part of the weekends programme. One of Finland's most popular pianists, Hillel Tokazier, will be entertaining the crowds sitting on the stool warmed last year by Claes Anderson.

Held at the beginning of every autumn, the only silent film festival in Finland has aroused interest from abroad as well. The closest similar event is held in Pordenone, Italy. Last year the festival sold over 3000 tickets. Organisers are expecting a slight increase in the number of visitors this year, but this is not the main aim.
"This is purely a cultural event and is unlikely to ever make a profit" says Ville Koivisto one of the festival organisers. Held on the last weekend in August the grand opening of the festival proper is preceded on Wednesday and Thursday by free shows arranged for students, pensioners and the handicapped.

Wartime - films return to their roots

Wartime propaganda films return to their roots in the third Forssa Silent Film Festival. The armed forces film records were evacuated to Forssa 60 years ago. Filmed material from the front was cut and recorded in the former "protection house", from where the documentaries were distributed.

The programme includes rarely seen documentaries from 1941. Short, 9 to 20 minute footage has been divided into three parts. The first lasts 85,5 minutes and shows Aunus and Syväri forces. The second 89,5 minute show includes the occupation parade at Äänislinna from October 1941 and service activity on the northern front. The third part lasts 75,5 minutes and shows the occupation of Kontupohja, Karhumäki and Poventsa. More information about wartime films can be had from the committee for wartime films.