Overview
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image has announced its program for White Night 2016. The cinema and exhibition space in Federation Square will once again host a number of film screenings and activities, as visitors flood to the city for the annual after dark arts festival, which is set to take place on Saturday, February 20. And everyone knows that, when you need a White Night disco nap, the cinema is the place to go.
One of the biggest items among this year's ACMI lineup is the Internet Cat Video Festival, the general content of which you can probably guess for yourself. The centre will also screen Tracy Moffatt's acclaimed short film Night Cries and Don Featherstone's Babakiueria, both of which offer distinctive takes on race relations in Australia. Rounding out the film program is Shane McNeil's Girt by Sea, which mixes archival footage with an original score by The Panics, in what is described as "a cinematic love letter to the coastline of Australia".
Those looking for something a little more interactive can also check out the Next Level Games Lounge in the ACMI Lightwell, where you can try your hand at a number of recent and retro video games while listening to music from live DJs and sipping drinks from a pop-up bar. There'll also be the chance to experience virtual reality, with the centre stocking up on cardboard VR mounts. Finally, ACMI's exhibition spaces will remain open all night long, as will the ACMI Cafe & Bar.
Of course, the biggest draw of ACMI's White Night Program might not be anything on the program itself, but the simple fact that the cinemas are comfortable and air conditioned – making it an ideal spot to recharge your art-lovin' batteries during the early hours of the morning.
The full White Night program is expected to drop in late January, although several major commissions have already been revealed. Standouts include Lisa Roet's Golden Monkey, featuring a 10m-high monkey climbing Melbourne Town Hall, as well as a new collaboration with the Portuguese multimedia group whose projection piece at the Royal Exhibition Building was one of the highlights of White Night last year.
For more information about White Night 2016, visit whitenightmelbourne.com.au.