This winter, ACMI invites audiences to embrace the unexpected with a dynamic program that fuses film, art, music, and performance in thrilling new ways. From an avant-garde audiovisual festival to a radical reimagining of Shakespeare, the season promises to challenge perceptions and ignite imaginations.
Kicking off in July, Double Vision transforms ACMI Cinemas into a sensory playground across three nights (3–5 July). The inaugural festival showcases boundary-pushing audiovisual artists, including Melbourne techno innovators Honeysmack and Jani Ho, UK producer Penelope Trappes, and experimental sound designers Tom Hall and mHz. Audiences can expect immersive performances that redefine the relationship between sight and sound.
Meanwhile, Geelong’s acclaimed Back to Back Theatre makes its ACMI debut with CHARGE! Agincourt by Back to Back Theatre (17 June–1 Feb 2026), a world-premiere exhibition reinterpreting Henry V.
The large-scale film transposes Shakespeare’s epic battle to a North Geelong factory, where an ensemble of actors—many with intellectual disabilities—and 100+ community members don cardboard armour for a poignant exploration of power and identity. Directed by Bruce Gladwin, this ACMI-commissioned work is supported by Rachel Griffiths and Andrew Taylor.
“ACMI thrives at the intersection of art forms,” says CEO Seb Chan. “This winter, we’re inviting visitors to discover new genres, artists, and connections through bold experimentation.”
Highlights include:
- Focus on Miranda July (5–16 June), a retrospective of the multitalented artist’s films and video works, co-presented with RISING
- Electronic musician Forest Swords’ first Australian performance in a decade (14 June), alongside a talk on his Assassin’s Creed score
- School holiday screenings of Magic Beach (10–19 July) with animation workshops
- Speedrun Weekend (21–22 June), featuring elite gamers racing through classic titles
- A deep dive into Ian Haig’s underground Worm Pornography (5 June), exploring AI and digital decay
Double Vision tickets start at $40 (early bird until 21 May), while CHARGE! Agincourt is free with ACMI admission. Full details at acmi.net.au.
