ACMI - Australian Centre for the Moving Image

Have you heard of the Untitled Goose Game? You know, the one where it’s a lovely morning in the village, and you’re a horrible goose? Even if you haven’t, this surprisingly wholesome (and free!) family-friendly exhibition is still likely to prompt a chuckle and teach you something about our homegrown gaming industry. ACMI’s latest exhibition is titled Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition and it’s all about a video game where you play a grumpy goose terrorising an innocent little town. Released in 2029 by Victorian developers House House, Untitled Goose Game is a multi-award-winning game of stealth and slapstick, which was quick to become a global cult favourite with kids and grownups alike.  Whether you’re a video game expert or a complete noob, you can learn about the rich history of slapstick comedy that inspired the game, or play early versions from the development process that have never been seen by the public before. Little ones will enjoy sound effect buttons and colourful interactive displays.  This exhibition is free and unticketed, which means you can drop into ACMI any time from September 17 2024 until February 16 2025. Find out more about Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition at the ACMI website. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Feeling arty? Check out the best art and exhibitions happening in Melbourne this month.

The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) returns for its 28th edition this spring, presenting ten fresh feature films in partnership with the Japan Foundation. Running from October 21 until November 3, the festival will present an eclectic mix of Japan’s best and latest cinema. In addition to new release films, there will also be a special series showcasing the classic works of director Shohei Imamura, known for his focus on the experience of the lower classes.  Opening JFF this year is Mom, Is That You!?, a commentary on Japanese workplace culture that promises to be as heartwarming as it is cutting. Fans of period films will enjoy Shadow of Fire, a historical drama set amongst the ruins of World War II.  If laughs are what you’re after, opt for The Dancing Okami to see the place where tap dancing and traditional Japanese hospitality meet, or A Samurai in Time, which pays homage to Japan’s most famous samurai stuntman, who died on-screen more than 50,000 times.  Manga lovers can see the long-awaited epic feature Sand Land, or the award-winning Let’s Go Karaoke. If romance is more your thing, Our Secret Diary serves up a bittersweet high school love story.  Elsewhere in the festival, younger viewers and nostalgic grownups will enjoy The Imaginary, an animated treat directed by a former Ghibli animator. For the thrillseekers out there, Out follows the real experience of a 17-year-old former gang leader, while Matched traces a sinister story of online dating gone wrong.   Screenings fo