The screening is part of an impressive Centenary event, the Silver Screen Film Festival, a partnership between the ACT Office for Ageing and of the National Film and Sound Archive. The festival season also includes a varied selection of contemporary and classic feature films, documentary films and short films from Australia and around the world—it looks terrific!

The plan is for the subject matter and themes of each film to resonate with older audiences, particular those in the 50 + age group, as they explore and promote messages of positive and active ageing, the importance of remaining socially connected and involved in our community.

“Ping Pong” stars Australia’s own Dorothy De Low or ‘Dot’, as she is generally known, who is still playing competition table tennis in Sydney at 102 years of age and who travelled to Mongolia, to participate in the World Veterans’ Table Tennis Tournament.

“Ping Pong” is the film that emerged from that tournament and it features eight talented world veteran table tennis players, including Dot, who will be here tonight for the premiere. The Silver Screen Film Festival will include five weekly Tuesday morning matinee screening sessions and screenings of feature films on selected Saturday afternoons, see below.

There is plenty of paid parking in close proximity to the Archive building, off McCoy and Ellery Circuits, Acton. The building also has the facility for commuter buses and other transportation vehicles to park with ease at the front entrance.

Silver Screen Film Festival, premiere at 7.30pm tonight, Tuesday July 16. Festival runs July 23-August 27. Inquiries to 6205 3113 during business hours. Bookings to 6248 2000. Admission prices are $5 for persons aged 50 years and over and students (proof of age or student identity card required), and $11 for other patrons or $9 for concession holders.

Full program:

Tuesday July 23, 10.45am – 1pm ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.’

Saturday July 27, 2pm Australian short film: ‘Tulip’, directed by Rachel Griffiths; also ‘Pop’s Dream’, directed by Bronwyn Purvis; and repeat screening of ‘Ping Pong’, directed by Hugh Hartford.

Tuesday August 6, 10.45am – 1pm US short film, ‘An Ordinary Life’, directed by Patricia Sommers; also German feature film: ‘Omamamia’, directed by Tomy Wigand.

Saturday August 10, 2 pm, Australian documentary film ‘The 100+ Club’, directed by Mandy Lake; also ‘A Woman’s Tale’, directed by Paul Cox.

Tuesday August 13, 10.45am – 1pm, Australian short film: ‘Better than Sinatra’, directed by Jefferson Grainger; also ‘Funny Face’, directed by Stanley Donan, 1956.

Saturday August 17, 2pm Live dance performance by the Growing Old Disgracefully (GOLD) Dance Troupe; Australian short film ‘Butterfly Man’, directed by Samantha Rebillet; also German documentary feature ‘Ladies and Gentlemen over 65 Needed’, directed by Lilo Mangelsdorf. Tuesday August 20, 10.45am – 1pm British feature film,’ Song for Marion’, directed by Paul Andrew Williams.

Saturday August 24, 2pm: repeat screening of ‘An Ordinary Life’; Repeat screening of ‘Omamamia’.

Tuesday August 27, 10.45am – 1pm, repeat screening of ‘The Centenarians’; repeat screening of ‘Ping Pong’.