Silent Cinema Galway: Bringing the Splendour of Early Films to Modern Times
The Birth of a Vision
In the heart of Galway, a city celebrated for its vibrant art scene, a unique venue transports audiences back to the early days of cinema. Silent Cinema Galway, founded by Adam Scheffler in 2023, provides a unique experience, combining silent film screenings with live musical accompaniment. Over its short lifespan, it has captivated local audiences and garnered national attention, culminating in an Irish Hospitality Award in 2024.
Scheffler’s fascination with the uniqueness of silent cinema ignited in his childhood, sparked by watching the films of such renowned artists as Charlie Chaplin on television. He recalls how those early viewing experiences opened him up to a stimulating visual language, “films that only had music, no spoken dialogue, and were so different from what we know from modern film language.”
As he grew up, his love for music grew alongside his cinematic interests, and this dual passion planted the seed for the ambition of one day opening a venue somewhere that could seamlessly blend both artforms. He envisioned “a place where silent films could be showcased with live musical accompaniment,” he shares, describing his dream of hosting not just traditional film screenings, but events that combined the immediacy of live concerts with the timeless narratives of silent cinema.
Further inspiration came from the time Scheffler spent in Berlin in his twenties. There, he attended a screening of F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922) with a full orchestra at the city’s famed Babylon Theatre. “I had goosebumps,” he recalls. “The musicians did an amazing job and that experience has stayed with me ever since.” This experience fueled his dream of one day running a venue that could host similar events, offering both film screenings and live concerts in a spectacular “two-in-one offering.”
From Dream to Reality
The journey to opening Silent Cinema Galway was not without challenges and hurdles. For instance, Scheffler initially found the prices of potentially suitable venues prohibitive. However, an opportunity arose when a friend asked him to lend his digital marketing expertise to his escape room business in Galway. Tucked inside the escape room’s building was a small waiting room, which Scheffler began envisioning as the perfect space for his cinema. “I thought to myself, this could be the best place to do it. And, well, the rest is history.”
Most countries in the world do not have a venue entirely dedicated to screenings of silent films. Indeed, most people have never seen a silent movie, especially one from over 100 years ago, and even fewer have ever had the opportunity of experiencing a silent film screening with live musical accompaniment in person. Yet, Scheffler always believed that Galway, with its reputation as a city of the arts and its UNESCO City of Film Status, had the potential to embrace such an endeavour.
His aforementioned background in digital marketing proved to be an invaluable asset, particularly in the early days of presenting and promoting his vision to the greater public. “Even if you’re a good artist, like a musician, a filmmaker or just a person who likes to organise cultural events, you need to have some basic knowledge about how to present your vision to the world,” he reflects.
A Journey to a Different Time
Silent Cinema Galway’s promise is to recreate the atmosphere of the 1920s, reminiscent in part of an old-style nickelodeon, embellished by glamorous nuances evoking the style of Weimar Republic clubs and cabarets. “That’s exactly what I wanted to achieve,” Scheffler explains. “For people to experience something from a long, long time ago.”
Indeed, with its intimacy and carefully curated ambiance, Silent Cinema Galway transports visitors to a different era. Its wine bar enhances the atmosphere, offering further opportunity to relax and socialise before and after the screenings, and further immersing guests in an alternate era, far-removed from the tumultuousness of modern times.
One of its defining features has been the live musical accompaniment, which is at the heart of its screenings. “We began with Desiree Oduah,” Adam recalls. “She’s a university student who responded to our call for musicians. Over time, more artists reached out, and we’ve cultivated a diverse group of resident pianists, including Mila Maia from Brazil, Agustina Taborda from Argentina, and Ireland’s own Thomas Quill.” This international ensemble, along with other collaborating musicians, no doubt, brings varied perspectives that enrich the cinematic experience.
Selecting musicians goes beyond technical skills. “It’s essential that they ‘feel the blues,’ so to speak,” Adam explains. After all, performing live scores to silent films is an art all its own, that requires not only a large amount of improvisation, but also some knowledge of the dramatic arts and a certain degree of empathy that allows the musician to connect with the unfolding silent shots, many of which were captured several decades ago. “It can be a slow process but our group of musicians is getting bigger and bigger.”
Adventurous Film Programming and Special Events
While timeless slapstick comedies from legends like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, and Harold Lloyd continue to captivate audiences, Scheffler is equally passionate about broadening the scope of silent cinema appreciation. His programming ventures beyond the familiar, showcasing masterpieces by directors such as F.W. Murnau, along with lesser-known gems and experimental works. Among its most daring offerings have been a program of avant-garde films by Dadaist artists and some of the earliest surviving adult films ever shot.
As a result of this approach, Scheffler has occasionally been surprised by the reaction to less mainstream films. He recalls a screening of Teinosuke Kinugasa’s 1926 Japanese silent experimental horror film A Page of Madness, where the audience watched in complete silence. This he attributes in part to the film’s power and Agustina Tabora’s piano performance: “That was definitely a special screening, definitely something else.”
Silent Cinema Galway has also produced screenings at the Palas Cinema, Galway’s arthouse cinema, which recently closed down. “We had a full house there as well, and that was further proof to me that what we’re doing with Silent Cinema Galway is worth it, even if it takes a lot of time and effort, and you never know if these events will be financially sustainable.”
While silent film screenings remain at the core of Silent Cinema Galway, the venue has hosted and produced events exploring the multifaceted entertainment of the 1920s, including with “The Roaring Twenties Shows.” Inspired by the cabaret shows of the Weimar Republic, where film screenings would be coupled with stage performances from burlesque dancers, comedians and singers from all over the world, Scheffler and his team have brought smaller scale versions of the global artistic expression that was nurtured by Berlin in the early part of the 20th century.
The Future of Silent Cinema Galway
Beyond screening works from the past, Silent Cinema Galway also looks to produce its own new silent films. For instance, Scheffler is currently planning to help bring to life a screenplay by Lindsay Wright, a lecturer at the University of Galway, titled Shakespeare Writes Julius Caesar. The goal is to produce films where the live music element would be just as important as the film itself, creating more of a concert experience than a traditional screening. “Because, you know, silent films were never really silent, as someone once said,” Scheffler remarks.
Silent Cinema Galway stands as a testament to the enduring power of silent film and the magic of live music. In just a short span, Adam Scheffler has created a space that not only preserves cinematic history but also reinvents it for modern audiences. Through carefully curated screenings, immersive live performances, and a dedication to fostering both local and international talent, the venue has established itself as a cultural gem within Galway’s vibrant arts scene.
Whether it’s introducing new audiences to the classics, reviving experimental works, or embarking on original silent film productions, Silent Cinema Galway proves that the art form is not just a relic of the past but a living, breathing experience. As it continues to grow, it remains a bridge between eras, a place where history and creativity converge in the flickering glow of the silver screen.
Find out more about Silent Cinema Galway by visiting their website.
