Double Vision is bringing a techno revolution to ACMI this winter

The ambitious program blends film, TV, art, music and culture in what ACMI Director Seb Chan describes as an opportunity to “discover new genres” and “connect with new friends who share similar interests.”

ACMI – Cold Fusion

• The winter season at ACMI runs 1 June – 31 August 
• Tickets from $33 for Double Vision sessions with early bird pricing until 21 May
• Free entry to CHARGE! Agincourt exhibition

Check out our gig guide, our stage guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.

Double Vision

• Honeysmack
• Jani Ho
• Tom Hall
• Mhz
• Penelope Trappes
• Peter Knight
• Aviva Endean
• Dogmilk

Double Vision kicks off the season with three nights of electronic music brilliance from 3-5 July.

The new audiovisual arts festival brings together Melbourne techno pioneers Honeysmack and Jani Ho, sound design masters Tom Hall and Mhz, UK vocalist Penelope Trappes, and musical experimentalists Peter Knight, Aviva Endean and Dogmilk.

A fixture in Australia’s underground scene for over three decades, Honeysmack rejects pre-programmed sets, instead crafting raw, improvised performances using drum machines, synthesizers and modular gear in real time. His punk-inspired approach treats techno as a visceral, immediate art form rather than a DJ exercise, creating unique soundscapes that never repeat. Each set becomes a high-voltage fusion of chaos and control, embracing the unpredictability of analogue hardware.

Jani Ho’s Detroit-influenced techno incorporates jazz elements and early house music from his New York upbringing, creating meticulously detailed live performances for ACMI’s Double Vision. Recently transitioning to an all-hardware setup with no computer assistance, Jani creates improvisational, dancefloor-oriented experiences that allow direct connection with audiences.

Expect a blend of new and classic material reimagined through spontaneous live manipulation.

Incredible films

• Me and You and Everyone We Know
• Fire of Love
• Magic Beach
• Worm Pornography
• Body Melt
• CHARGE! Agincourt

For cinephiles, ACMI and RISING present Focus on Miranda July from 5-16 June, celebrating the multihyphenate artist’s work from feature films like Me and You and Everyone We Know to documentary Fire of Love and lesser-seen short films and video art.

Families can enjoy Magic Beach during the school holidays (10-19 July), Robert Connolly’s animated adaptation of Alison Lester’s beloved children’s book, enhanced by animator introductions and activity sessions for kids.

For those with more experimental tastes, director Ian Haig presents his underground art film Worm Pornography on 5 June as part of ACMI’s ART + FILM program. The visceral work features sound design by Philip Brophy (Body Melt) and explores AI, virtual wormholes, and “mutant YouTube cat videos.”

CHARGE! Agincourt

The centrepiece of Cold Fusion is undoubtedly CHARGE! Agincourt by Back to Back Theatre, a world premiere reimagining Shakespeare’s Henry V. The Geelong-based ensemble, led by artists perceived to have intellectual disabilities, has created a “vast and stirring” film where factory workers from North Geelong recreate the famous battle of Agincourt with cardboard armour and raw emotion.

The ground-breaking production asks profound questions about identity and purpose beyond the spectacle of combat. Directed by Bruce Gladwin, it features the core ensemble of six actors alongside more than 100 community members in what promises to be an epic theatrical experience.

Gaming culture and electronic innovators

Gaming culture gets its moment with Speedrun Weekend on 21-22 June, showcasing Australia’s fastest videogame players as they race to complete challenges in record time. The event serves as a warm-up for ACMI’s major Game Worlds exhibition opening 18 September.

UK electronic musician Forest Swords (aka Matthew Barnes) makes his first Australian appearance in a decade on 14 June. Known for composing scores for games like Assassin’s Creed, he’ll perform live and give a talk titled Crafting the Score, discussing his creative processes.

ACMI continues to cement its position as a cultural powerhouse, attracting millions of visitors through exhibitions, screenings, commissions and festivals. Their industry, education and creative incubator programs are developing the next generation of screen talent, further establishing Melbourne as a globally recognised hub connecting people, communities, technology and ideas.