Australian Centre for the Moving Image

From major festivals to one-off showings of arthouse classics, interactive exhibitions to digital workshops, a visit to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) offers a fascinating opportunity to view the world of film and television from both sides of the silver screen.

The permanent exhibition Screen Worlds: The Story of Film, Television and Digital Culture provides a hands-on exploration of the history of the moving image in Australia. Here you can play vintage video games, try out the latest digital technology and learn about the evolution of film and television. Follow this up by checking out the constantly changing programme of temporary exhibitions on a wide variety of related topics from cinematic costume design to the history of gaming.

As well as regular film showings ranging from popular home-grown mainstream and arthouse classics to cutting-edge documentaries, ACMI also hosts a number of major film festivals which bring famous actors, directors and critics to the city. The centre’s world-class facilities are regularly used by film-makers to produce new work, while keen amateurs can try their hand at skills as diverse as digital storytelling and movie-making in one of the numerous workshops, or attend talks by major names in the film and television industry.

ACMI is open daily except for Christmas Day. Free guided tours of the Screen Worlds exhibition take place twice daily, and admission to many of the other events is also free – check the website to find out what’s on and book tickets. To round off your visit, enjoy a meal or a drink at the on-site restaurant and bar (open Monday to Friday) or browse the collection of sound and video archives in the Australian Mediatheque.

ACMI is located in Federation Square, close to Flinders Street Station, the city’s main train terminal. Transport options include tram, bus, boat, bike or car, with pay parking in Federation Square and plentiful public transport stops nearby.