Twilight Talks: Not the Last Picture Show | Ballarat Heritage Festival

Twilight Talks have been held at the BMI since 2001, providing a great opportunity to hear some fantastic speakers and meet up with friends over drinks.

This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics' Institute, meaning many had their first ever experience of 'moving pictures' in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year's Heritage Week.

The BMI's Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001, check out our website for upcoming talks.

Session	Speakers
Wednesday 8th May	Frank Hurley OAM, played a leading role in the restoration and revitalisation of the BMI in the ten or so years from 2000 Ellen Becker, current Heritage Collections Curator at the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute Sam McColl, current Venue and Events Manager at the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute
Wednesday 15th May	Erin McCuskey, archival filmmaker and owner of Yum Studio
Wednesday 22nd May	John Bourke, ex-manager and projectionist at The Vegas 70 and The Regent Chris Jones, Director of Showbiz Cinemas, and Board Member at Independent Cinemas Australia
Wednesday 29th May	Dr Stephen Gaunson, Senior Lecturer in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University.

The detailed speaking schedule for this series of Twilight Talks can be found on the BMI website.

Doors open 5.30pm. Talks start at 6pm sharp.

This event is a part of the Australian Heritage Festival, Ballarat Heritage Festival and proudly support by Community Bank Buninyong

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.