Four young adults wearing white with their arms behind them and their faces toward the sky. They are standing on the lawn of a large brick building.

New Australian Cinema Facing the Numbers + Q&A Sydney Premiere

  • Cinema
  • Playhouse
  • Run time: 75 minutes, plus 15 minute Q&A Subject to change
  • Seating map

Australia l 2026 l English l Documentary | Unclassified MA15+

Followed by post-screening Q&A with members of the Facing the Numbers team.

Continuing our regular series platforming new and recent Australian films, Facing the Numbers is a genre pushing film anthology that explores First Nations disadvantage in Australia’s justice system.

First Nations people make up 3.8% of Australia’s population, yet account for more than 35% of the adult prison system. Grounded in truth-telling, Facing the Numbers showcases the remarkable strength and resilience of First Nations people who are still here protecting Country, culture and community.

Highly acclaimed Aboriginal filmmakers Kieran Satour (Malngin, Pertame and Worimi) and Tyson Perkins (Arrernte & Kalkadoon) confront one of Australia’s most significant human rights failings, revealing the human stories behind the harrowing statistics of First Nations incarceration and deaths in custody.

The anthology holds raw and cinematic recreations of lived experiences of Uncle Michael ‘Widdy’ Welsh (Wongaibon), Geoffrey Johnson (Wiradjuri), Kylie Hampton (Gurindji), Matthew Coe (Wiradjuri) and the family of Mark Mason Snr (Gomeroi).

Their encounters with the justice system are reenacted creatively with dance sequences choreographed by Beau Dean Riley Smith unfolding against compelling compositions by Aboriginal musicians, from spoken word poetry by Dr Romaine Moreton and Kobie Dee to classics from Lajamanu Teenage Band and Vic Simms.

Accomplished First Nations stars including Sherry Lee-Watson, Wesley Patten, Haylee Rivers, Luke Currie-Richardson, Pamela Young and Donald Mallard bring the stories to life alongside emerging talent.

Viewer Advice: Contains themes of racial discrimination and instances of violence towards First Nations people.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Event details

Cast and credits

Director Tyson Perkins, Kieran Satour
Producer Ramona Telecican, Kieran Satour
Screenwriter Kieran Satour, Tyson Perkins
Cinematographer Tyson Perkins

Featured Subjects
Geoffrey Johnson, Matt Coe, Mark Mason Jnr, Kylie Hampton, Darlene Mason, Uncle Widdy Welsh, Deidre Murray

Attending this event

You may also like

Silenced + Q&A

2 Sep 2026

  • Cinema
A woman wearing a traditional barrister's wig and a black gown, with an elegant white collar and large earrings.

Ashes of Time Redux

2 Sep 2026

  • Cinema
A man is crouched atop a hill in the dessert. He is looking up to the sky and has a sword at his side.

Future Council + Q&A

3 Sep 2026

  • Cinema
A group of eight people seated around a table in a forest, surrounded by greenery.

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Playhouse

The Playhouse is located in the north-western corner of Sydney Opera House, best accessed through the Western Foyers.

  • Checking availability