Stars send greetings as Slapstick prepares to stage 20th birthday edition

A screen comedy festival begun as a one-off in Bristol in 2005 is now readying for the start of its 20th anniversary edition with the release of a film trailer containing birthday greetings from an array of its celebrity fans.

Playing from now on social media channels and at Watershed, the trailer mixes scenes from some of the silent and vintage comedies showing as part of the festival’s 12 - 16 February programme with black-and-white video messages from past star guests. They include impressionist Rory Bremner, mimicking Donald Trump, comedians Jo Brand, Tim Vine and Josh Widdicombe and the stand-up, writer and award-winning podcaster Richard Herring.

Festival founder and director Chris Daniels says: “I never imagined in 2005 that Slapstick would still be around in 2025, let alone be the biggest festival of its kind in Europe. Back then I thought we were creating a one-off. But it ended with lots of ‘see you next year’ comments; the screen comedy vaults are full of treasures, new and old, so it’s just gone on, growing bigger, broader and better.”

Image: Harry Enfield's Top Comedy Moments at Slapstick Festival 2025 

As well as celebrity messages on video, Slapstick 2025 will also involve live celebrity guests in the 35 unique events it is presenting across five days at Bristol Beacon, Bristol Old Vic, the Bristol Megascreen cinema and Watershed. Programme highlights include: 

• Stand-up, scriptwriter, actor, author and musicals-maker Ben Elton becoming the latest recipient of an Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award
• Stage, film and TV actor Martin Freeman hosting the centre-piece gala and sharing the bill with Buster Keaton, keyboard legend Rick Wakeman and a Time Lord
• Harry Enfield joining Robin Ince for an event revealing Harry’s favourite comedies
• Star of the international comedy circuit Stephen K. Amos, showcasing his comedy heroes and introducing Mel Brooks’s BLAZING SADDLES as his favourite film
• Comedian Lucy Porter opening a three-film look at 1920s silents poking fun at Soviet Russian politics
• Broadcaster and journalist Samira Ahmed chairing a debate about satire linked to a 60th anniversary screening of Stanley Kubrick’s DR STRANGELOVE
• Actor Nigel Planer saluting his late, great, co-star Rik Mayall and in a separate event revealing more about characters he’s invented, such as Neil from THE YOUNG ONES
• Ahead of its 30th anniversary, Meera Syal joining other stars/creators of the ground-breaking radio and TV series GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME.

In addition, Aardman co-founder Peter Lord will host a family friendly celebration of Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit; Graeme Garden will be talking with Samira Ahmed about the women who worked with THE GOODIES;  Rick Wakeman will celebrate his friend Ian Lavender and Ian’s work as a cast member of DAD’S ARMY and there will be clips and chat shows involving Adam Hills, Robin Ince; Mike McCartney of The Scaffold fame and Paul McGann,

As ever, the festival opens with screenings of rare, rediscovered &/or newly restored/ re-issued comedies from the silent film era, each accompanied by live music. And day one wraps with a zany homage to the same genre with Ryland Brickson Cole Tews crossing the Atlantic for a medal presentation, Q&A and big screen showing of HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS – the bonkers but brilliant near silent film in which he stars and which is already heading for cult status after appearing in scores of Best Film lists.

Chris Daniels added: “Slapstick has grown in ways I never thought possible when the festival started. To start, it was all about keeping an interest in silent comedy alive. Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd and their peers are still in the mix, of course, backed by enthusiastic celebrity champions. But it’s good the festival now celebrates more recent examples of screen comedy and a thrill that so many of creators are happy to join us.”

Further details of the Slapstick 2025 programme, ticket prices and booking options can be found on the festival’s website: www.slapstick.org.uk.  Slapstick news is also available via the festival’s Facebook, Instagram and X (ex-Twitter) accounts and by signing up via the website for free e-newsletters.

Slapstick is a not-for-profit organisation. The festival’s principal funders are Aardman Animations (www.aardman.com) and BFI (www.bfi.org.uk) awarding funds from the National Lottery.