This edition of Composing Cinema pays tribute to the pioneering animator Lotte Reiniger, and the centenary of her groundbreaking The Adventures of Prince Achmed.

We are delighted to be joined by experimental noise conjuror mutterichbindoom from SECT Silent Club who will perform his live score for the film.

Masterminded by Lotte Reiniger, and hand-tinted frame by frame, The Adventures of Prince Achmed is the first feature-length animation in film history. Based on The Arabian Nights, the film tells the epic tale of Prince Achmed, who is tricked into mounting a magical flying horse by a wicked sorcerer. The horse carries Achmed off on a series of adventures, over the course of which he joins forces with young Aladdin, battles ogres and monsters, and romances the beautiful Princess Peri Banu.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed will be preceded by Cinderella (1922, 10 minutes, also featuring a live score), one of Reiniger's earliest works. This delicate short showcases her innovative cut-out animation technique in its formative years, offering a glimpse into the artistic vision that would culminate in her masterpiece.