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The Volta Exhibition


From the Bloomsday Film Festival 2024

2 February 2024 — Present

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

The Bloomsday Film Festival is an annual film festival that celebrates cinema inspired by Joyce’s work. It is held during the Bloomsday Festival. The Bloomsday Festival 2024 will be held on 11-16 June.

The James Joyce Centre is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

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