Dome Under Film Festival returns to Melbourne planetarium with a stellar lineup of immersive cinema
The three-day Dome Under Film Festival has today unveiled its spectacular program, offering a unique celebration of immersive cinema at the Melbourne Planetarium from 31 January to 2 February 2025. This year’s festival will be the biggest ever with more sessions and films than ever before and, for the first time, will open on a Friday night.
Australia’s only fulldome film festival will showcase cinematic releases specially selected for the Planetarium’s state-of-the-art dome theatre, offering a unique screening experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional filmmaking. The films will be projected across the 16-metre domed ceiling of the Melbourne Planetarium, immersing audiences in an extraordinary sensory environment. Attendees can expect a VR-like journey into the world of cinema, with stunning visuals, thought-provoking narratives, and the added experience of a state-of-the-art 5.1 surround sound system.
This exclusive program includes 32 films from 15 countries across diverse topics like astronomy, animation, biology, biodiversity, drama and documentary, with a brilliant selection of family-friendly films. Audiences will engage with the most forward-thinking creators in the film industry from across Australia and internationally, with exclusive screenings promised to captivate viewers of all ages.
For those with an interest in international cinema and the arts, the Mind Blowing Art session offers something special with films such as U221E, a visually captivating work by Mexico’s F3 Studio that explores various interpretations of infinity. Also showing is Within, a powerful visual suite by Polish creator Ari Dykier that takes viewers through emotional and mental stages of experiencing fear, stress, curiosity, passion, calmness and more.
In the World Stories session, takila milaythina-ti | Heart in Country offers a cultural journey through the rhythms of the day and night with the palawa community of Northern Tasmania. This profound exploration of the traditions, stories and sacred practices of the land grants a unique insight into the deep relationship between people and Country. Another highlight is This Is Not a Ceremony, a Canadian film set in a dream-like world where two Indigenous trickster poets lead the audience through narratives that challenge the idea of personal responsibility while confronting the darker realities of Indigenous life in Canada.
Warik Lawrance, festival founder and Museums Victoria curator, said, ‘Dome Under Film Festival, through its extraordinary fusion of art, technology and cinema, is a gateway to new worlds and ideas. The immersive dome environment offers a truly unique platform for filmmakers to explore innovative storytelling possibilities and spark conversations.’
As part of your visit, marvel at the spectacular Museum of the Moon, a four-metre installation that brings the breathtaking lunar surface to the Planetarium Foyer, with incredible detail that will leave you starstruck.
Dome Under Film Festival is an esteemed annual event that brings together filmmakers, industry professionals and movie buffs for a vibrant showcase of cinema. Returning this year under the iconic Planetarium Dome, the festival continues its tradition of showcasing innovative films and offering unique experiences for all film lovers.
When: 31 January – 2 February 2025
Where: Melbourne Planetarium, Scienceworks, 2 Booker Street, Spotswood, Melbourne
Tickets: Available in person at Scienceworks and online here
Price per session: Adult $20 / Child $12 / Concession $17 / Member Adult $15 / Member Child $10
