8.–
18.
AUG 2024
About the program 24
Stummfilmfestival
Open air
Livemusic
arkadenhof Uni Bonn
view the videos
Filmtage

News

The 39th Bonn Summer Cinema - International Silent Film Festival was a complete success and planning is already in full swing to make the 40th anniversary a very special year. The festival will take place as usual in a hybrid format from August 8 to 18, 2024. This year there will be a new edition of the long-awaited program booklet, for which we urgently need your support. We are using a very special donation format for this, where you can receive great prizes.

Silent Film Festival

For the 40th time, Europe's most popular silent filmfestival will take place in August 2024 in the heart of Bonn. Newly restored classics, rediscoveries, exotic rarities. The program brings together popular and unknown titles from the early days of cinema, whose technical sophistication will amaze. The films are also still convincing today in terms of aesthetics, dramaturgy and acting. The audience ranges from curious first-time visitors to proven film connoisseurs. Professionals mix with enthusiastic hobby cineastes. Young and old, families and groups of friends, couples of all ages, guests who come alone but do not remain lonely in thecourtyard. The event is also a place for meeting and exchange. An annual reunion with like-minded people, an experience for all the senses.

Live Music

The films are accompanied by a selection of renowned musicians from around the world, most of whom have dedicated themselves solely to silent film. As soloists or in small ensembles, they provide the films with sound. The accompaniments vary from composed scores to spontaneous improvisations. Pianos and violins are the classic instruments that accompany silent film. In Bonn, a flute, drums, an oboe and a harp complement the instrumentation. Sometimes a musician plays several instruments during one film. You can find more on the musicians at the festival further down on this page.

Open Air

The films are presented outdoors in the Arkadenhof at the University of Bonn. Nearly 1500 chairs are available for viewers (this year only 500 due to the coronavirus epidemic). In case of rain, there is standing room for several hundred people in the Arkaden walkway. You're well-equipped for the film evenings with a sweater, blanket and umbrella. Every weather condition has its particular charm. Events are free but donations are requested. This means you'll have to be there early some evenings to get a seat. If the courtyard is full, the gate will be closed. You can pass the time waiting for it to get dark, and for the screening to begin, by reading or chatting in the wonderful atmosphere of the Electoral Palace. Bonn's "most beautiful movie theater" has a 100-square-meter screen and 35 mm film projectors that are used in alternation, as well as the latest digital film technology.
Program
August 2024
Stream & Videos
Music

Richard Siedhoff (piano)

Richard Siedhoff (born 1987) is a silent film musician and composer. Since 2008, he has accompanied far more than 300 silent film classics with original compositions and conceived improvisations on the piano as well as occasionally on the cinema organ and is considered one of the most sought-after young talents in his field. He is the house pianist at the Lichthaus Kino Weimar, whose silent film program he curates. He is also active as a composer, pianist and performer for film, theater and cabaret. In addition to countless events in cinemas, clubs and on cultural stages, he regularly makes guest appearances at the 'International Silent Film Festival Bonn', the Filmmuseum Munich, the Zeughaus Kino Berlin, the Blackbox in the Filmmuseum Düsseldorf and performs at numerous festivals in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Scotland, Thailand, South Korea and China, among others. Much of his music has also been released on DVD and Bluray. In addition to further work for theater and cabaret, Siedhoff also writes silent film music for chamber ensemble and orchestra and is composer in residence of the Metropolis Orchestra Berlin. He wrote orchestral music for Murnau's "Der Gang in die Nacht" and "Der letzte Mann" as well as for Fritz Lang's "Der müde Tod." As part of the Beethoven anniversary BTHVN 2020, he composed an orchestral score for the silent film biopic "Beethoven", which premiered in Bonn in February 2020. Richard Siedhoff is the winner of the first German Silent Film Award 2020 for his reconstruction of Hans Landsberger's original orchestral music for "Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam" from 1920. For small events, Richard Siedhoff likes to travel with his mobile 16mm cinema and film prints from his extensive collection. In times of digitalized cinemas, even these events have an incorruptible show value and charm that is often missed in our fast-paced times. www.richard-siedhoff.de

How to find us

Arkadenhof at the University of Bonn (Regina Pacis Weg 1, 53113 Bonn).

Right across the street from the Markt bus stop is the entrance to the courtyard. With the tram/subway, go 5 minutes from the main train station to the main university building and the "Uni/Markt" station. You can park in the surrounding parking garages such as the university garage, or enter the market garage via Stockenstrasse.

Drinks and Snacks

It'sa warm summer evening, the sun is setting over the Baroque university courtyard, and there's a cool drink in your hand. Life is good!

We offer a wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages (Fritz, Aqua con viva), Pilsner and Kölsch beer, and excellent French wines of all kinds. Our snack selection includes high-quality nibbles and organic sweets (also vegan).We request that you refrain from bringing your own drinks to the courtyard. By purchasing snacks and drinks, you actively support the event.

questions and answers
When do the doors open?

Doors open at 7 pm. The best seats are gone quickly! You can enjoy a cold beer or a nice glass of wine at the venue, drinks are sold on-site. Please be aware that we rely on the revenue from selling refreshments.

How much is the entrance fee?

Admission is free for all performances in the Arkadenhof (arcade court). There is no seat reservation for those events. The cost of admission for the sunday events at the Brotfabrik Bonn Beuel are free too. The festival is dependent on your donations to maintain the offer.

What am I allowed / not allowed to take inside?

Bags will be searched at the doors to ensure the safety of all attendees. Sharp objects and all weapons will be seized, as well as bottled drinks. You can bring anything else you like!

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Support us in bringing premium silent films and musicians from around the world to Bonn.

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