The16th February 2026 marks the 117th Anniversary of Muriel’s Balloon Protest, which took place over the skies of London on Tuesday 16 February 1909, during King Edward VII’s royal procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster for the official State Opening of Parliament.

Muriel Matters’ famous London leaflet raid by balloon was dramatised in the 1949 black-and-white film ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’ (which can be viewed below).

As well as the 1949 film, as part of the 2013 Adelaide Film Festival, with the assistance of the Muriel Matters Society and Ronin Films, the Documentary-Drama ‘Muriel Matters‘ premiered, showcasing the life and exploits of Muriel Matters through archival images, interviews, dramatic reconstruction and animated sequences. The film was later aired on ABC’s Artscape programme in the same year.

The 2013 film explores how this extraordinary woman became lost to history and reveals what her story tells us about the links between art, politics, and women’s rights in England and Australia.

You can watch the 2014 film ‘Muriel Matters!’ in two ways:

• Purchase the DVD from the Society (This supports our work)
• Stream Online for Free at Kanopy (Free with some Community and University Library memberships)

The Documentary DVD can be purchased from the Society, supporting the work of the Muriel Matters Society, and is also available for Free online for some Community Library and University Library Members via the Online Streaming Platform Kanopy.

Educational Resources for Teachers and Students are also available to accompany the 2013 film and can be found on the Educational Resources page.

Bible, S. (Director). (2013). Muriel Matters. Ronin Films.
Mitchell, H., Bible, S., Anderson, S., Mann, T., Archer, R., Davis, J., Bedford, F., & Newmarch, A. (2013). Artscape: Muriel Matters! Artscape: Muriel Matters! Broadcast 15 October 2013.