MUFF x Toronto Silent Film Festival

Lois Weber

We are so thrilled to be co-presenting another fantastic film for the Toronto Silent Film Festival. This film festival has always done a fantastic job of highlighting the talents and contributions of women to silent films and this year is no exception, with the first half of the festival specifically devoted to women. This year's women-centric programmes span everything from Shakespeare to comedy!

Opening Night (April 6th, 7:00PM) kicks off with a 1921 German production of Hamlet.  Famed actress Asta Nielsen plays Hamlet but instead of playing the character as a man, this version imagines Hamlet as a woman who had to disguise herself as a man to ensure seccession to the throne. Bad ass. Even more bad ass: Asta Nielsen formed her own production company to produce the film, hired the directors, and oversaw all aspects of the production. Even more bad ass! 

Hamlet (1921)

The mood picks up on April 7th (1:45PM) with 1000 Laffs: Her-Larious. This programme features four shorts and a clip that highlight some of the incredible Silent Queens of Comedy: Alice Howell, Louise Fazenda, Mabel Normand, Anita Garvin, Marion Byron, and Phyllis Haver (plus a special guest appearance from Colleen Moore!). 

Directly following the comedy programme (at 4:30PM) is the film The Sensation Seekers (1927). This film is directed by the incredible Lois Weber, who at one point was the highest paid director of any gender working in Hollywood. She was known for exploring women's issues in her films and this selection is a perfect example. The Sensation Seekers follows Egypt, a modern free-thinking woman who gets tangled in the webs of gossip and innuendo within her community when the local preacher saves her from the law (after a hard night of partying and drinking). 

MUFF is proud to be co-presenting The Sensation Seekers with TSFF. Join the FB Event here! Plus, closer to the festival we'll be giving away some tickets so keep your eyes peeled.

We also strongly (STRONGLY) encourage you to check out Hamlet and 1000 Laffs: Her-Larious as well because obviously. All three of these events will screen at The Royal and feature live accompaniment. Learn more about all of the screenings and purchase tickets and passes right here!

The Sensation Seekers