Kingston is known for many things. It was one of Canada's official capitols back in the days when the seat of our government moved around eastern Canada. It is home to the infamous Kingston Penitentiary, which is known locally as KP. Opened in 1835 it is one of the oldest prisons still in use. Kingston is also known for its fine university, Queen's, and for being the host for the sailing events during the 1976 summer Olympics.

It became home to a new film festival in 2000 and this year, their 10th anniversary, the KCFF enjoyed its best year yet with attendance up 20% despite an economy that is still showing signs of weakness everywhere. To celebrate its 10th anniversary organizers went looking for something special to offer its patrons and this year turned up an early Canadian silent film, Carry on Sergeant!.

Produced at the Trenton Studios – a large production house built in Trenton, Ontario in 1916 – Carry on Sergeant! tells the story of four men from Hamilton who join the army to fight in World War I. Enduring years of trench warfare including the gas attack at Ypres, the film’s lead meets a French woman who waits tables at a tavern and makes personal choices that haunt him.

The film was partially shot Kingston and originally played at the Grand Theatre in December 1928. And that's where it played again on March 6th of this year. In the tradition of "doing things right," organizers arranged for the silent film to be screened with live musical accompaniment by famed concert organist William O’Meara, along with an exhibit from the production’s history and the festival’s 10th anniversary reception. O’Meara has accompanied films for the Toronto International Film Festival, the Ottawa International Silent Film Festival, the National Gallery of Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Goethe Institute, Pacific Cinematheque (Vancouver), the Toronto Theatre Organ Society, and for the world’s largest festival of silent films, Le Giornate del Cinema Muto (Pordenone, Italy). In addition to accompanying silent films, Mr. O’Meara also enjoys an international career as a concert organist, performing at festivals and concert series throughout North and South America and Europe.

Northernstars.ca congratulates the Kingston Canadian Film Festival on their first highly successful decade.