Five concert screenings will bring surprising soundscapes in which the silent films are seen almost entirely in their original form – the only different thing being the soundtracks, developed by talented and internationally acclaimed musicians over half a year. The genres and themes flow into one another and the silent films shout: “The world is one and cultural boundaries exist only in out-dated thoughts”.

In terms of perception of culture it seems there is no difference as to in which era or geographical region we were born – inspiration has no boundaries. For example a 21st century Congolese musician is watching a 100 year old movie by a German director about a love story from Bora-Bora – and his eyes light up with understanding. The festival is full of that kind of unexpected moments of enlightment.

The festival takes place from 19 February to 5 March 2011 in Kumu auditorium, Artis Cinema and the Russian Cultural Centre. The films will get a new language through improvisations by musicians from around the world, from Africa to America.

The highlight of the festival is the performance of Konono No 1 – award winning ethno futuristic band from Congo – on 5 March at the Russian Cultural Centre. The band will make music for the German classic Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau exotic movie „Tabu“.

The white screen will also show classic film pearls like Dziga Vertov’s „Man with a movie camera”, Estonian classic “Young Eagles” and the German “Berlin, Symphony of a Great City”, that hasn’t been shown in Estonia before. As silent films are being made today as well, one of this century’s most visually fascinating movies “The Aerial” is part of the programme.

The silent films will come to life through contemporary and enchanting sounds created by Argento Tango Fusion from Spain, spaghetti western style duo of guitar virtuosos Dead Combo from Portugal, American rapper and beat boxer Napoleon Maddox from the USA together with Estonian Jazz clarinet player Meelis Vind and the Estonian cult band ÖÄK.

Japanese silent films and the declining benshi culture will be discussed during a lecture along with the screening of a rarity „Serpent“ (1925) while text and dialogue will be presented by famous Japanese benshi Saito Yuko.

The organisers hope that the festival will become popular among the music and film fans in Estonia as well as international audiences and it will continue in the years to come.
Tickets are available at Piletilevi and one hour before the event at venue. See also http://www.facebook.com/tummfilmid.

The festival is being organised by Foundation Tallinn 2011 in cooperation with MTÜ Tallinna Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival (PÖFF) and Booking Agency Rampade Org.

Festival Programme
19.02.2011 19:00 - Kumu auditorium (Weizenbergi 24)
THE YOUNG EAGLES
(Estonia 1927, dir: Theodor Luts)
Live music: Napoleon Maddox (USA) / Meelis Vind (Estonia)
Ticket: 10 EUR
• 20.02.2011 19:00 - Cinema Artis (Estonia pst 9)
SERPENT
(Japan 1925, dir: Futagawa Buntaro)
• 25.02.2011 19:00 - Kumu auditorium (Weizenbergi 24)
MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA
(Soviet Russia 1929, dir: Dziga Vertov)
Live music: Dead Combo (Portugal)
• 26.02.2011 19:00 - Kumu auditorium (Weizenbergi 24)
BERLIN, SYMPHONY OF A GREAT CITY
(Germany 1927, dir: Walter Ruttmann)
Live music: ÖÄK (Estonia)
Ticket: 10 EUR
• 04.03.2011 - 19:00 – Russian Cultural Centre (Mere pst 5)
THE AERIAL
(Argentina 2007, dir: Esteban Sapir)
Live music: Argento Tango Fusion (Spain)
Ticket: 13 EUR
• 05.03.2011 - 19:00 - Russian Cultural Centre (Mere pst 5)
TABU
(USA 1930, dir: Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau)
Live music: Konono Nº1 (Republic of Congo)
Ticket: 15 EUR
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets on sale from 12th January
Buy 3 concert tickets together for 30 EUR
Presale tickets 10 EUR / 15 EUR from PILETILEVI.