Science. Art. Film.: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

An ordinary man’s obsession becomes humanity’s first conversation with the cosmos.

Arc Cinema

6:00PM

$8 (+$1.50 booking fee)

Wed, Jun 17, 2026

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Science. Art. Film.: Close Encounters of the Third Kind 17 June, 2026

Presented as part of our Science. Art. Film. series

in partnership with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University.

1977 | 4K DCP | USA | D: Steven Spielberg

Directed by Steven Spielberg at the height of the New Hollywood era, this visionary science-fiction classic stars Richard Dreyfuss as a suburban father drawn toward an inexplicable encounter. Blending awe, suspense and groundbreaking visual effects, this film redefines cinematic depictions of extraterrestrial life, favouring wonder over fear.

Both intimate and spectacular, Close Encounters of the Third Kind remains a landmark of 1970s American cinema and a touchstone for generations of filmmakers.

‘A movie that dares to be awesome in the true sense of the word’. — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Don’t miss this whirlwind panel discussion with a film music expert and composer and a philosopher, uncovering how the film’s themes and sounds shape the way we think about aliens, ourselves, and our place in the universe.

Panellists:
Professor Kenneth Lampl received his D.M.A. in music composition from the Juilliard School and studied with John Williams. As a film composer, he has scored over 100 films, including Pokémon: The First Movie – Mew vs. Mewtwo, Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns, Frontera (starring Ed Harris and Eva Longoria), and 35 & Ticking (starring Kevin Hart and Nicole Ari-Parker). His recent Australian scores include The Furies, 2067, and Sissy. The 2067 soundtrack was released by Sony/Milan Records and was listed as “One of the Best Scores of 2021” by the Film Music Institute in Los Angeles. Lampl currently teaches film music and music technology at the Australian National University.

Colin Klein is a professor in the School of Philosophy at the Australian National University. He received his PhD from Princeton University and previously taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Macquarie University. He has published widely on consciousness, artificial intelligence, foundations of computation, and the epistemic effects of social media.

Moderator:
Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU. She is also the Head of  POPSICULE, ANU’s Science in Popular Culture and Entertainment Hub. Dr Jürgens’ research explores cultural meanings of science, the history of (violent) clowns and mad scientists, science and humour, and the interface between science and (public) art. 

Arc Cinema

We are situated in the heart of Canberra on McCoy Circuit, Acton, between the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and the grounds of the Australian National University. Just a 10-minute walk from the city and state bus interchanges.

1 McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601

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