A landmark work of silent cinema will be presented in Limassol this week as the PSI Foundation hosts a special screening of The Passion of Joan of Arc accompanied by a live piano performance from Ernest Simoniants.
The event forms part of the foundation’s wider programme and has been developed in dialogue with the parallel programme of the VIMA Art Fair.
A return to the origins of cinema
The screening revisits the tradition of live musical accompaniment during the silent film era, when pianists played alongside moving images in real time.
According to the organisers, music in early cinema functioned not merely as background sound, but as an active interpretative element shaping rhythm, emotional intensity and audience perception.
The event explores how this relationship between image and sound can also be understood as an early precursor to contemporary video art.
Dialogue with Bill Viola’s work
The screening is presented within the context of Bill Viola. Unspoken, currently hosted at the foundation.
The organisers note that the work of Bill Viola similarly treats silence, duration and image as interconnected experiential elements rather than straightforward representation.
In this framework, Dreyer’s film is presented not simply as a historic cinematic work, but as part of a broader lineage connecting silent cinema with contemporary moving-image art.
A landmark silent film
Released in 1928 and based on the original trial transcripts of Joan of Arc, Dreyer’s film is widely regarded as one of the defining works of silent cinema.
The film is particularly noted for its minimalist visual language and the performance of Renée Jeanne Falconetti, whose portrayal of Joan of Arc remains one of the most celebrated performances in film history.
Organisers describe the film’s emotional intensity as emerging through close-up imagery, duration and performance rather than spectacle or elaborate staging.
Event details
The screening will take place on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at 20:00 at the PSI Foundation, located at Synergatismou 27, Limassol.
The live piano accompaniment will be performed by Ernest Simoniants.
Admission is free, with RSVP required via info@psi.art.
The event duration is approximately 80 minutes.
