House pianist for the British Film Institute (BFI), Meg Morley, will bring to life two iconic silent films as part of the Pocket Film Festival, which opens this weekend.

Both celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, Meg will be providing live accompaniment to 'Three Bad Men', directed by John Ford, and silhouette animation 'The Adventures of Prince Achmed'.

'Three Bad Men' follows a group of outlaws during the 1877 Dakota gold rush and 'The Adventures of Prince Achmed' is inspired by The Arabian Nights and traditional shadow puppet theatre.

Festival Director, Owen Hurcombe, said: "The Pocket Film Festival gives people a chance to experience film culture on their doorstep.

"The festival will host over fourteen specialised film events which will include enhanced screenings with live musical accompaniment, archive films and documentaries, short-film programmes, independent film, British film, and classic films."

Meg, who is originally from Melbourne, is a classically trained pianist and has worked with various dance companies including Matthew Bourne, Pina Bausch and English National Ballet.

In 2016, she performed her first improvised score for silent film and now regularly performs at film festivals across the world and has had a tour commissioned by the BFI.

Speaking about silent films and her upcoming performances this weekend, Meg said: "It feels really good to be in a room with people creating music for a film that's 100 years old.

"Of course you can't replicate exactly what musicians back then would have played and I don't think you should.

"But I do try to reference something of that era.

"I think film is just great.

"As a kid, I would escape into films.

"I think it's such a good medium, going to the cinema and especially independent films are so important for people to spread their ideas and views.

"The silent film element is great too, because you're throwing back to the past.

"I think silent films have been considered by some people incomplete because there's no sound.

"But I don't think that at all.

"There's a live element to it so it's just a different way of experiencing film.

"If you haven't experienced silent film with live music, it really is quite a thing."

Screening times and tickets:

Friday 25 September- Three Bad Men at Crown Wharf Theatre, Stone (buy tickets)

Saturday 26 September-The Adventures of Prince Achmed with live piano accompaniment by Meg Morley at Newcastle Museum & Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme (buy tickets)

Other notable festival events:

Friday 25 September- Saturday 3 October- Salt in Stafford at Baswich Library (free)

Friday 25 September- Saturday 3 October- In and Around Stafford 1964 at Stafford Library (free)

Sunday 4 October- Faust with live organ accompaniment by Darius Battiwalla at Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall (buy tickets)

For more screenings and information, click here.