7:30 PM, 25th March, 2026
FOLLOWED BY PANEL DISCUSSION WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, INCLUDING DIRECTOR JOHN HUGHES, RICHARD TANTER (NAUTILUS INSTITUTE) AND MORE TO BE ADVISED
Twilight Time profiles the extraordinary life of Australian academic, surveillance expert and strategic thinker Desmond “Des” Ball. Once hailed by American President Jimmy Carter as "the man who saved the world", Ball’s intellectual insurgence and his advice to the U.S. Department of Defence were instrumental in preventing nuclear escalation during the Cold War.
This compelling documentary, directed by John Hughes, chronicles Ball’s journey from a brilliant scholar to a target of ASIO after his investigations into Pine Gap, revealing how his commitment to transparency often put him at odds with the very governments he advised. Hughes utilises a wealth of rare archival footage and insightful interviews to tell this uniquely Australian story of global significance. It serves as a timely exploration of mass surveillance and defence policy, while honouring Ball's enduring legacy as a man who dedicated his life to ensuring a safer future for all.