Are the cinematic cities of tomorrow two-dimensional caricatures of our culture, or thought experiments that shape and inform real world cities? Melbourne International Film Festival and Melbourne Conversations bring together a filmmaker, urban planner, researcher and technologist to discuss the bright and dark metropolises that populate our screens and our streets. Speakers: Alex Proyas is an Australian film director/writer/producer whose feature films include The Crow (1994), Garage Days...

We can now record the world’s languages at an unprecedented rate, precisely at the moment they are most threatened. What does the future hold for language in the age of digital tech? At Melbourne Knowledge Week 2018, linguist and international guest of the festival Laura Welcher (The Long Now Foundation), Nick Thieberger (Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures) and Paul Paton (First Languages Australia) get together to discuss the future of language...

Office parties, presents, stress, familites, overindulgence, happiness for many - depression for some, trashed credit cards … but not enough sanity! Love it or hate it, whether you're in the "party hard" or "parent hard" set, the festive season is upon us. Join our seasoned panel in the final Melbourne Conversation for 2003. Have a laugh, get some survival tips and share your stories Speakers: Jane Clifton Professor Ian Hickie, Dr Francis Macnab AM, Denise Scott Date recorded: 9/12/2003

When Ron Robertson-Swann's Vault was unveiled in 1979 in Melbourne's City Square, a furore erupted. Nicknamed the Yellow Peril, this work survived in the oublic domain and will soon be relaunched in pride of place at the new Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Will Federation Square be the new Vault? Have Melburnians grown up in 20 years or have our senses simply been dulled? Corporations, councils and citizens all weigh in on our debate over public art - what, where, why and for how...

The arts are littered with examples of censorship of one kind or another - Chloe, Rabelais, Salo, Piss Christ, Baise Moi, the list goes on. Which production will be the Ballet Frankfurt of this year's Melbourne Festival and whose moral sensibilities will be outraged? Will a new, more conservative world tolerate increased freedom of artistic expression? How do we strike a fair balance? What's the role of the media? Speakers: Associate Professor Louise Adler (MC), Adrian Martin , Kate MacNeill,...

Merry Rituals and Happy Christmas. Communion with God, Community Expression or Meaningless Party? During the past two talks in this series, we have discussed death and meaning from the perspective of both the believer and the non-believer. Speakers and audience members alike have been passionate in their discussion of these important topics. Tonight's talk will no doubt be just as passionate as our panel turns their attention to rituals and their purpose in our society. With Hanukkah about to...

Beneath all the laughter, comedy is a pretty serious business. Some comedians will risk six months rent to put on a show; others have become household names. Gain some insights into how the art and business of comedy are balanced and hear how comedians blend their passion for getting up on stage with the demands of the entertainment business. Speakers: Red Symons (MC) , Jodie J Hill , Kevin Whyte , Rachel Berger , Dave O’Neil Date recorded: 8/4/2003