Kansas Silent Film Festival

03/05/2026

My view from the podium sometime on Saturday. We ended up with a great crowd all weekend and are grateful to all for being with us and hope everyone had a great time. Despite a couple of technical glitches (it wouldn't be a KSFF festival without 'em!), we had a great festival.
So thankful for all of our staff, the volunteers, the musicians, projectionists, Washburn security team and technician, Alumni Center crew for good service at our Cinema Dinner, and a big shout out to our guest Melissa Talmadge Cox for all of her insights on her families--both sides.
Thanks to Ken Filardo for coming every year with a new set of vintage equipment to view and to Bruce Calvert for filling up the cases with fun memorabilia. It goes by so fast! Looking forward to next year.

03/01/2026

HOORAH! We have another successful festival under our belts!! Many thanks to our all-volunteer Board of Directors, our generous monetary supporters, our festival volunteers, this year's guest of honor Melissa Talmadge Cox, our talented musical guests (Ben Model, Jeff Rapsis, Marvin Faulwell, and Bill Beningfield), the staff of White Concert Hall at Washburn University, and everyone who has supported us through our 29 years. Hope to see everyone again on 26-27 February 2027. (Photos by Jane Bartholomew)

02/24/2026

We're always pleased when Ben Model is part of our festival as accompanist, as historian, and as founder of Undercrank Productions. But in 2025, he became an author, so at this year's festival, on Saturday afternoon, you'll get a chance to buy his book and get it signed by Ben.

02/23/2026

Traveling tourist Ariel hits up the Kansas State Capital of Topeka in this pleasant, short tour. He doesn't mention KSFF, but he gives a good summation of the highlights of Topeka that our visitors may want to investigate when you're in town for the upcoming festival.

02/21/2026

When you attend KSFF in our state capital of Topeka, please find time to visit the 1903 Kansas State Capitol and take a free tour, which includes a climb up to the Dome. It's a lot of fun, and very interesting to learn about the nation's 34th state.
Also, be aware that our festival takes place on the Washburn University campus in White Concert Hall, pictured below.
The Cinema-Dinner on Saturday night is held directly across the street from the festival at the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, pictured below. If you don't already have your tickets ($40 each), please check for availability at the KSFF front desk.
(Photos by Jane Bartholomew)

02/14/2026

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. Our upcoming festival has some lovely romantic comedy in the Constance Talmadge/Ronald Colman film "Her Night of Romance" (1924). Our festival has something for everyone! Coming February 27-28.
Our website is back up and running so check out the full schedule, program notes, and directions to our venue White Concert Hall on the campus of Washburn University. Live accompaniment from some wonderful musicians too!

02/14/2026

Last month, our web site crashed. Yesterday, with help from tech-support from Washburn University, the errors were corrected quickly, and the site is BACK...including deep-details of our February 27 & 28, 2026, Kansas Silent Film Festival FREE EVENT at White Concert Hall, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas!

Home site of the Kansas Silent Film Festival,Topeka, Kansas, including news of upcoming festival and archives of previous festivals: including program, program notes, directions to White Concert Hall, Washburn University.

02/06/2026

If you live in the WIBW-TV viewing area you'll be gifted with this little ad for KSFF. Coming Feb. 15. For those not in the area, here it is.

This is "KS Silent Film Fest - 2026 - 30" by WIBW-TV on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

02/01/2026

Since it's Sunday, let's enjoy a minute of hymns from Dr. Marvin Faulwell. Sing along, if you'd like!

02/01/2026

A number of our KSFF Board Members and musicians gathered Saturday to create the musical accompaniment to some of this year's films.
While Ben Model and Jeff Rapsis were rehearsing their scores on the East Coast, KSFF organist Marvin Faulwell and percussionist Bob Keckeisen got to work on theirs in Dr. Faulwell's Midwest abode.
KSFF President Bill Shaffer, Secretary Carol Yoho, and photographer Jane Bartholomew encouraged the musicians from the balcony.

01/31/2026

Our annual flyers are in the mail, so you should be receiving yours soon. In the meantime, here is an outline of our 2026 KSFF Schedule. As always, our festival is FREE!
Our special guest is silent film comedian Buster Keaton's grand-daughter, Melissa Talmadge Cox.
Hope to see you at White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus in Topeka on February 27-28, 2026!