As part of the 34th edition of the ToruńCAMERIMAGE International Film Festival, we invite you to UNMUTE THE FRAME, a competition that gives silent cinema an entirely new sound. The event will take place on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, at 4:30 PM at the Tumult Foundation, Rynek Nowomiejski 28, in Toruń. Admission is free and open to everyone, including those without festival accreditation.
UNMUTE THE FRAME is a new competition presented as part of the 34th ToruńCAMERIMAGE International Film Festival, dedicated to the creative reinterpretation of moving images through music and sound.
The idea behind the competition is to discover new meanings and emotions hidden within classic silent films. Participants are invited to create original musical scores for selected excerpts from two Polish films: The Beast (Bestia, 1917), directed by Aleksander Hertz and shot by Witalis Korsak-Gołogowski, and The Strong Man (Mocny człowiek, 1929), directed by Henryk Szaro and shot by Giovanni Vitrotti.
Eight participants will take part in the inaugural edition of the competition: Łukasz Hurric, Barbara Klein, Normally Closed, OnOjciec_OnSyn, NWM, DeafHearing, FLLARC and Samovolca. They will present their interpretations live, using a variety of instruments, electronic techniques, sampling and experimental forms of sonic expression. Each participant will create an original musical interpretation of selected excerpts from the two classic Polish silent films, The Beast (1917), directed by Aleksander Hertz, and The Strong Man (1929), directed by Henryk Szaro. Each artist will give the images their own sound narrative, drawing on a wide range of instruments, techniques and musical means of expression.
Before their performances, each artist will explain their choice of film and specific excerpt, outline the concept behind their interpretation and introduce the techniques and artistic approaches they have used. They will then present their original sound design for a film excerpt lasting approximately eight minutes.
Łukasz Hurric
Barbara Klein
Normally Closed
OnOjciec OnSyn
NWM
Deaf Hearing
FLLARC
Samovolca
The presentations will take place in two competition blocks, with a jury selecting the best interpretation.
UNMUTE THE FRAME is an invitation to look at cinema from a perspective in which music does not simply accompany the image, but becomes another layer of its narrative.
The competition is organised by the Tumult Foundation.
The event is presented in partnership with the National Film Archive (FINA).
The competition is part of the Fall for Films in the Kujawy Pomorze Region event co-financed by the Self-government of the Kujawy Pomorze Region.
See cinema like you've never heard it before!