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Silent Film Club Membership

What is the Friends of Silent Film Association?

In the days when films were silent, Japanese movie theaters used their own benshi (narrators) and orchestras composed of both Japanese and Western instruments to create enjoyable homemade screenings. These precious performances were lost with the advent of sound motion pictures (talkies). The Friends of Silent Film Association was founded through the boundless love of our movie fan "elders" for motion pictures in order to keep alive the many pleasures of the Japanese silent film genre, including the art of "katsuben" (silent film narration) and the very progressive musical ensembles which combined Western and Japanese instruments, and more fully enjoy these unique movies not found anywhere else in the world.

Since 1959, the Friends of Silent Film Association has been holding monthly screenings of films which were once lost or forgotten. These films are screened in a method which matches as closely as possible the way they were originally shown.

The Friends of Silent Film Association is eager to meet and welcome new members to pass on the light of silent films and the tradition of katsuben.


Membership Privileges

There are two types of regular members: A Members and B Members.

A Member: 500 yen membership fee, 10,500 yen annual fee
Receives 12 free tickets to Association screenings good for one year. These tickets can be used by persons other than the member.

B Member: 500 yen membership fee, 2,100 yen annual fee
Receives 12 discount tickets to Association screenings good for one year. These tickets can be used by persons other than the member. (Discount tickets cost 1,000 yen, 800 yen off the regular price)

    All Our Members (both A and B),
  • are issued a membership card,
  • receive information (Members' Notices) regarding regular meetings,
  • receive the quarterly Katsukichi in January, April, July and October,
  • may purchase merchandise handled on the "Matsuda Film Productions - Silent Film Related Product Shopping List" at a 5% discount from the unit price (Please note that there are merchandises that are not subject to discount),
  • may subscribe to the monthly Classic Movie News (150 yen each), which also contains a program of regular meetings for 2,000 yen per year including postage,
  • may present their membership cards to receive discounts on admission to other events affiliated in some way with the Friends of Silent Film Association,

(Membership fee is a one-time only payment.)


Venue for Screenings

The majority of screenings are held at Monnaka Tenjo Hall (a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Monzennakacho Station when taking the Tozai Subway Line and a 1-minute walk from Exit 6 of Monzennakacho Station when taking the Oedo Line). One or two screenings each year are held at Shinjuku's Kinokuniya Hall.


Films Screened

We carefully plan a program each month, using mainly films stored in the Matsuda Film Library. In addition to showing the classics, we also show popular films, rare films, and incomplete works.


For Those Living Outside of Tokyo

Even though you may not be able to attend the regular screenings in Tokyo, you can receive information from us regarding screenings outside of Tokyo and a wealth of other information via Members' Notices, newsletters, Classic Film News, and other communications.



"How Do I Join?"

Complete the application form below, and click the "Send" button. We will then send bank transfer forms to applicants. After we have received your payment, we will send you your membership card.

*If your Member Application does not send properly, you may need to adjust your browser settings.

If your browser settings are correct and your Member Application still does not send properly, you can send us your application in one of the two following ways:
(1) Send us an e-mail at katsuben@matsudafilm.com with the relevant information.
(2) Print out the Member Application, fill in the relevant information, and fax it to us at 81-3-3605-9982.

Friends of Silent Film Association Office
Matsuda Film Productions
3-18-4 Towa
Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-0003
Tel: 03-3605-9981
Fax: 03-3605-9982
Postal Transfer <00140-2-052103>
Account Holder's Name: Friends of Silent Film Association

　

Friends of Silent Film Association Membership Application

Name
Occupation
Date of Birth
Year Month Day
Address

Postal code -

Telephone number - -
E-mail
Type of membership (circle one)
A Member B Member
Would you like to subscribe to the Classic Film News (2,000 yen/year)?
Yes No

　

　

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