In 1909, James Joyce, with the backing of Italian investors from Trieste, set up the Cinematograph Volta on Mary Street, Dublin — Ireland’s first cinema. It showed mostly European films, much to the displeasure of the locals. Joyce managed the cinema for a few months before returning to Trieste. The Volta would remain open until 1919. In honour of Joyce’s introducing film to Ireland, the film room on the top floor of the James Joyce Centre is called “the Volta.”
Launched as part of our Joyce birthday celebrations on 2 February 2024, the Volta Exhibition is a selection of short films from the Bloomsday Film Festival. It consists of the best of the best of Joycean material since the conception of the Bloomsday Film Festival. It will run permanently in the Volta Room.
A Book, a Bible and a Beach(2023) Liz Roche and José Miguel Jiménez, 21 min, Ireland. Winner of Best Joycean Short at the Bloomsday Film Festival 2023. Lucia Joyce: Full Capacity (2019), Deirdre Mulrooney, 7 mins, Ireland Joyce’s City (2022), Luke De Brún and David Keenan, 4 min Ireland James Joyce Framed in Cork (2022) Marcella O’Connor, 6 mins, Ireland Penelope (2019) Caitríona Ní Threasaigh, 29 min, Ireland She Said ReJoyce (2023) Godfrey Jordan, 20 min, Canada Land of Winter (2018) Tommy Creagh, 14 min, Ireland Pepette (2021) Luke Brabazon , 23 min, Ireland Luminary Reflection (2022) Laura Sheeran, 6 mins, Ireland Lucia’s Room (2020) David Maziashvili and Mariam Aleksidze, 30 min, Georgia