Bo'ness Hippodrome to screen 105-year-old silent thriller

HippFest presents Filibus: The Mysterious Air Pirate (1915) online from 8pm on Saturday, November 28 to Monday, November 30.

This classic silent thriller follows the adventures of Filibus, the “fiendishly clever, ever-so-alluring, techno-savvy mistress of disguise, and jewel-thief extraordinaire” as she travels high across the Italian Riviera in her airship.

The first female onscreen action hero is lowered in a gondola by her henchmen to steal from the rich and then vanishes back into the clouds.

Faviourite HippFest musical collaborators Jane Gardner (piano) and Hazel Morrison (percussion) will be providing the soundtrack to this ancient celluloid artefact.

Alison Strauss, HippFest director, said: “Filibus with live accompaniment was previewed back in March, on the eve of lockdown, at a community event in the heart of Bo’ness, kicking off the programme for our milestone 10th edition.

“We had all been so looking forward to sharing this terrific and little-known film with the wider audience, later in that week, but of course this was not to be. So we couldn’t be more pleased to partner with the Fair Saturday Foundation, whose digital platform has made possible this exciting online event and helped us bring some of the magic of HippFest in to people’s homes.

56 Falkirk flats face demolition bidVet funds pour in after kitten found with throat cut in Grangemouth

“While we can’t physically welcome people in to the Hippodrome, we are looking forward to welcoming people online, wherever they are. We have a few ideas for how people can really feel part of the event.

“We’ll have some short intros, the option to be part of the online conversation with other audience members around the world, and some chances to actually join in the live music accompaniment.

“We are hoping the audience, wherever they are, will take their inspiration from Filibus herself – the mistress of disguise – and dress for the occasion. Steampunk aviatrix, masked jewel thief, 1920s baroness – whatever takes peoples fancy to create their HippFest at Home experience.

“And we are hoping too that people will welcome the chance to support the much-loved home of the festival – the Hippodrome itself.”

Visit https://bit.ly/Filibus for more information on how to access the screening of Filibus: The Mysterious Air Pirate.