There is a secret hidden in every selfie you've ever taken and every digital image you've ever shared or seen online. That secret is Lena.

The Patron Saint of JPEGs. The First Lady of the Internet. And Technology’s Original Sin.

The Playboy centerfold is quite possibly the world's most studied image since the Mona Lisa. And her visage has us equally perplexed.

Lena's role in the tech industry began in 1972 when the Swedish Playboy model featured as the Miss November centrefold. When a group of men at The University of Southern California (USC) were working on an algorithm to turn physical photos into digital bits, they chose Lena’s centrefold as the ideal test image.

This research laid the groundwork for what would later become the JPEG, an image standard that revolutionised the digital landscape. Today, Lena is the most used test image in the world.

From the Australian production company FINCH comes a compelling documentary that questions the very tenets of our industry and leaves us pondering: is it time Lena retires?

DIRECTOR: Kyra Bartley

PRODUCER: Francesca Walker, FINCH

CREATIVE INPUT: Clemenger BBDO and Facebook Creative Shop

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS: Code Like a Girl, Clemenger BBDO, Facebook, Creatable and Kamber

CAST:

• Ally Watson, Founder and CEO, Code Like A Girl
• Alicia Morris, Teacher of Computer Science, Algebra and Fashion at Mendez High School
• David Lowe, Deputy Dean of Engineering, University of Sydney
• Deanna Needell, Math Professor, UCLA
• Debbie Sterling, founder of Goldieblox
• Emily Chang, Author of 2018 NYTimes bestseller ‘Brotopia’
• Greg Attwells, Co-Founder, Creatable
• Jane Margolis, Science Professor, UCLA, and “Whitehouse Champion of Change"
• Kara McCullough, Nuclear Scientist, and Miss USA 2017
• Lena, Miss November 1972 and featured Centerfold, Playboy
• Tok Thompson, Professor of Anthropology, USC

Code Like a Girl would like to thank Facebook for the support, project leadership, funding, legal counsel and stewardship provided throughout the project.

EVENT SCHEDULE

• 6:00 pm: Doors open, grab a choc-top or drink at the bar! (included in ticket price)
• 6:25 pm: Take a seat and get comfy for the premiere of Losing Lena  
• 7:15 pm: Documentary ends, panel discussion begins
• 8:00 pm: Panel ends, mingling and networking in the reserved function space
• 8:40 pm: Event end