A young man playing a trumpet while standing in a dimly lit room.

Africa Film Fest Australia Laundry Introduced by Masego Pitso

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See more from Africa Film Fest Australia. Book both screenings and save $10.

  • Playhouse
  • Run time: 106 minutes, plus 15 minute intro Subject to change
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Opening Night Film | Australian Premiere

Switzerland & South Africa l 2025 l Zulu, English, Afrikaans l Historical Drama | M

Johannesburg, 1968. Sixteen-year-old Khuthala dreams of becoming a jazz musician, but his ambitions collide with the harsh realities of apartheid South Africa. His father’s small laundry business, one of the few remaining sources of independence for their family, is struggling to survive under a system designed to dismantle Black ownership and economic freedom.

When his father is arrested and brutally beaten, Khuthala is forced to confront an impossible choice. As the pressure mounts, he must sacrifice his dreams, friendships, and moral convictions to protect his family and preserve what little they have left.
Through the intimate story of one family, Laundry reveals a lesser-told dimension of apartheid: the systematic destruction of Black businesses, livelihoods, and futures. Set against the vibrant world of jazz, the film explores the devastating human cost of oppression while celebrating music as a form of resistance, identity, and cultural memory.

A powerful coming-of-age story about identity, ownership, resilience, and the price of survival, Laundry reminds us that oppression can destroy lives not only through violence, but through the quiet erosion of opportunity, dignity, and hope.

Screening as part of Africa Film Fest Australia 2026.

Presented by Sydney Opera House and Africa Film Fest Australia

Event details

A gripping family drama… a thoughtful and emotionally resonant tale of resistance and the struggle to cling to hope against overwhelming odds.

Thatself

Zamo Mkhwanazi’s gripping family drama Laundry offers a nuanced examination of the mechanisms of oppression.

Victor Stiff, That Shelf, 2025

Regardless of how deep your knowledge runs when it comes to South African apartheid, you will be captivated by the events that unfold, all while your heart aches in each act.

Jamie Broadnax, Black Girl Nerds

Cast and credits

Director/ Writer Zamo Mkhwanazi

Khuthala Ntobeko Sishi
Enoch Siyabonga Shibe
Magda Bukamina Cebekhulu
Ntombenhle Zekhethelo Zondi
Lilian Tracy September

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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.

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