AUDIENCES were treated to a four-day festival of silent films.

The Electric Palace, in Harwich, one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the UK, hosted it’s first Silence Festival – giving film lovers a chance to see a variety of classics from the era.

The festival was launched with a gala screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s the Ring and music from pianist Terry Ladlow and silent film musician Stephen Horne, with guest speakers including Bryony Dixon of the British Film Institute.

Special festival guest, silent film historian Kevin Brownlow also paid a visit giving a presentation called Surprising Silents, on the final day.

But the centrepiece of the festival was F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise.

Festival programmer, Carolyn-Ann Ford, said: “Electric Silents is a resounding success and a remarkable achievement in little more than six months of researching, programming and publicising.

“It has had a national and international impact. It has proved itself to be a worthy ally to larger and well-established silent film festivals around the world.”

Pupils from Harwich Primary School also took part in the cinema festivities by dressing in Victorian costumes.