Northern California plays host to two wonderful silent film festivals in the next few weeks, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum’s Bronco Billy Silent Film Festival, and the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Both celebrate the art of silent film as well as the talented musicians who provide musical accompaniment for them, adding in extra features like special introductions by historians and author book signings.

The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum presents their Sixteenth Annual Festival this year from June 28-30 in the 1913 Edison Theatre, called “For the Love of Film Then…and Now…,” featuring movies about the movies. Not only will the festival screen wonderful classic films like “Show People (1928)” starring Marion Davies and Buster Keaton’s “Sherlock, Jr. (1924),” but also a little known 1921 movie about a movie, “His Nibs,” starring Chic Sale. The lineup also includes “Broncho Billy” shorts filmed on location in Niles and the gorgeous 1926 animated film “Prince Achmed.”

“The Adventures of Prince Achmed”

New films saluting silents will also play at the festival. The 2011 documentary “Stunt Love” screening Sunday looks at the life and career of actress/stuntwoman extraordinaire Helen Holmes and her husband, J. P. McGowan. Premiering at the festival is “The Canyon,” a new two-reel silent western directed by the Museum’s own David Kiehn with a silent film camera, saluting Broncho Billy and the Essanay cowboys.

Several special attractions are included in this year’s festival, with chanteuse Janet Klein performing at the opening night party, Diana Sera Cary (silent film’s “Baby Peggy”) and historian Robert Birchard leading a panel discussing stunts in silent films following “Stunt Love,” and author/historian John Bengtson giving a presentation on “Sherlock Jr. (1924)” filming locations preceding the film screening.

Check here http://www.nilesfilmmuseum.org/the-2013-bbsff.htm for more information.

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival annually presents an eclectic mix of silent films from around the world, accompanied by diverse types of music, as well as special one-time-only presentations like “Napoleon” in 2012 and the just concluded “Hitchcock 9.” This year’s Festival from July 18-21 at the Castro Theatre presents another diverse line-up of films, offering something for everyone.

Old standbys like Marion Davies’ “The Patsy (1928),” Harold Lloyd’s “Safety Last (1923),” and the “Kings of (Silent) Comedy,” featuring shorts by top silent film comedians play during the weekend. A restored print of Douglas Fairbanks’ 1916 film, “The Half-Breed,” also premieres during the fest, offering shots of Fairbanks’ almost nude backside.

A scene from “Gribiche.”

The Festival also features a smorgasbord of worldwide programming this year, including Films Albatros “Gribiche (1926),” France’s “Prix de Beaute (1930),” starring Louise Brooks, Germany’s 1925 “Joyless Street,” starring a young Greta Garbo, Denmark’s “The Golden Clown (1926),” Ozu’s 1931 film, “Tokyo Chorus,” Russia’s “The House on Trubnaya Square (1928),” and “Legong: Dance of the Virgins,” a 1935 two-strip Technicolor documentary about Bali.

As always, the Fest includes special items and screenings, like their free “Amazing Tales from the Archives” presentation. After their recent presentation of the “Hitchcock 9,” SFSFF offers another British presentation, “The First Born (1928),” the directorial debut of actor/writer/producer Miles Mander, adapted from his book and play, and featuring young actors Madeleine Carroll and John Loder. The premiere of the 1925 restored film, “The Last Edition,” by Festival Board President Rob Byrne, promises to be the highlight of the weekend. Starring young William Bakewell and Wade Boteler, the action-packed “The Last Edition” is shot in and around The San Francisco Chronicle building, featuring newspaper production from press to print, thrilling chases throughout the city, and a “stop the presses” climax.

Over the next month, Northern California is the place to be to view outstanding silent films, hear beautiful accompaniment, and meet respected authors and historians.