JPenistone Film Festival 2025

Our first-year event! 18th & 19th October

A two-day celebration of the origins of the motion picture industry. With silent cinema, live music, vintage glamour, theatrical performances, immersive actors, and visual storytelling – all hosted here at the historic Penistone Paramount theatre.

From Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd & Clara Bow to modern stunt demonstrations, contemporary organ concert, and TikTok viral reels, this is a festival that bridges the past and present – inviting a new generation to engage with art through film, music, comedy, stunts, and creativity.



Ticket Options

🎟️ VIP All-Access Weekend Pass

£50 Standard | £30 Concession | Free for Carers Only 60 available – includes: • Early entry from 9am (both days) • VIP seat reservation using your headrest cover and lanyard • Access to all events • Exclusive VIP gift bag (see below)

VIP passes are the only way to reserve your seat for the 2 day event – all other tickets have unallocated seating.

🎟️ Saturday Day Pass (limited to 60)

£35 Standard | £20 Concession | Free for Carers • Doors open at 9:30am • Unreserved seating • Access to all Saturday events

🎟️ Sunday Day Pass (limited capacity)

£25 Standard | £15 Concession | Free for Carers • Doors open at 9:30am • Unreserved seating • Access to all Sunday events Note: Sunday is one full-day ticket and will not be split into individual sessions. Festival Ends at 3:00pm



Saturday 18th October – Full Day Programme

Feel free to dress as a character or in vintage-inspired costume – prizes for best costumes will be awarded randomly throughout the day!

• 10:00am – Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman Live piano by Andy Quin (Boardwalk Empire, Victoria & Abdul, Better Call Saul)

• Special Presentation Talk by the International Buster Keaton Society: The Hidden Language of Silent Film

• Harold Lloyd’s Bumping Into Broadway With pre-recorded improvised organ accompaniment by Tom Horton

• Live Theatre & Comedy “Against the Clock!” – a two-act comedy show by Fools Talk Theatre: a high-energy tribute to Harold Lloyd and the silent film icons of the 1920s

• Sensory-Friendly Screenings Three surreal Charley Bowers shorts with pre-recorded organ scores by Tom Horton Plus an educational talk from Matthew Ross at The Lost Laugh Comedy Club

• Local History Connection Discover Penistone’s link to Sheffield and the birth of modern football (Hint: check the historic graves just across the road)

• All-Day Attractions Art stalls, food vendors, vintage photo booth (prints included), costume competitions, immersive actors. Keep an eye out for our uninvited little tramp and his nemesis – a very strict ex-Keystone Cop security guard…

• Filmmaker Screenings Watch selected entries from our silent film competition throughout the day

• Evening Feature: Clara Bow in IT With live music by Andy Quin. The film that inspired a Taylor Swift song – and a MIGHTY musical finale to Saturday!



Sunday 19th October – Golden Age of Hollywood Awards Day

Dress to impress in your best Art Deco-inspired 1920s outfit – we’ll be awarding surprise prizes throughout the day!

• Roaming Performer A vintage stilt walker adds some elevated elegance to the atmosphere

• 10:00am – Opening Performance Live flapper girls Charleston dance to open the day