melbourne writers festival 25 august – 3...

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL 25 August – 3 September 2017

ACCESSIBILITYMWF is committed to making the Festival accessible for all. We provide a range of accessible services and facilities so that all booklovers have access to the Festival. If you’re buying tickets online, please enter any access requirements when prompted at checkout. Alternatively, call the MWF box office on 03 9999 1199 or email [email protected].

Service AnimalsTrained guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome at all Festival venues.

Wheelchair AccessWheelchair access is available in all Fed Square venues. For details about the easiest entry points, and location of accessible toilets, visit mwf.com.au/accessibility.

Companion CardMWF supports and accepts the Companion Card. You can book in person at our box office, by phone on 03 9999 1199, or email [email protected]. A copy of your valid Companion Card is required.

Assistive ListeningHearing loops are available in Fed Square including The Atrium, Deakin Edge and ACMI. For more information about each venue, visit mwf.com.au/accessibility.

AUSLAN InterpretersAUSLAN is available by request for any session in the program. Visit mwf.com.au/accessibility to make a request or alternatively call the MWF box office on 03 9999 1199 or email [email protected].

Low Vision

Reserved seating is available for patrons with low vision. When buying tickets online, enter your request when prompted at the checkout, or call 03 9999 1199 to arrange these seats.

Different Formats AvailableAn audio version of Festival highlights and a text version of the program are available at mwf.com.au/accessibility.

Vision Australia RadioMWF is excited to partner with Vision Australia Radio. They will be offering a range of programs that feature book readings and podcasts of past MWF highlights plus interviews with some of this year’s most interesting writers. Find out more at radio.visionaustralia.org.

HOW TO BOOKYou can book over the phone, by email, or in person at the box office.

Phone: 03 9999 1199 (10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday)

Email: [email protected]

Advance box office: 21 July – 24 AugustLevel 1, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne(10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday)

Festival box office: 25 August – 3 SeptemberAtrium Entrance, Fed Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne(9am – 30 minutes after last session commences, daily)

Please contact us for booking terms and conditions.

MAIN PROGRAM SESSION INFORMATION IN A LARGE TEXT VERSION Friday 25 AugustTIME VENUE SESSION

NAMESESSION DESCRIPTION PRICE BOOKING

CODEPROGRAM STREAM

10:00 AM

Deakin Edge, Fed Square

ABC RN Books & Arts Live

Kick off your MWF with ABC RN Books and Arts’s live broadcast from the Festival. Get a taste for the discussions to come as Michael Cathcart is joined in conversation by exciting Festival guests.Supported by ABC RN

Free – bookings not required

1000 Live & Social

6:30 PM


Kim Scott: Opening Night Gala

Throughout his award-winning literary career, Kim Scott has reconstructed narratives of Aboriginal experience while interrogating the archives of history. In his powerful opening address, Scott explores how writing yourself into history can challenge Australian identity and transform our connection to language and land.The Mission Songs Project present a dynamic musical performance of Indigenous song, casting light on the history and resilience of our Indigenous communities.Then join us for a drink as we kick off the Festival! DJ Sovereign Trax brings a playlist of the best music from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

$50 1001 The Agenda

artists as we reflect on the collective stories, identities and resistance of the First Nations.Ticket price includes event and opening party.Supported by the Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne

Saturday 26 AugustTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

Fed Square

Mapping Our Future City: Interactive Exhibition

Join us on a journey of discovery through a pop-up installation exploring the future of infrastructure, technology, arts, environment and lifestyles. This unique exhibition in the heart of Fed Square will be imaginative, visually striking and use technology to tell stories and excite imaginations, including a virtual reality experience exploring the construction of the Metro Tunnel. Come along to share your ideas for a better tomorrow.This free interactive exhibition is open daily.Supported by Metro Tunnel and Spacecube


0000 Live & Social

10:00 Deakin The Perils of The world is in grip of profound political $22/$19 1301 The Agenda

AM Edge, Fed Square

Populism and social change, and leaders are promising to respond to the voice of the people. What does populism mean for the new world order? Dennis Altman, Sanaz Fotouhi and Michael Winkler discuss with The Griffith Review’s Julianne Schultz.

10:00 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Meet Megan Abbott

Exploring the dark, often violent inner lives of young suburban women, Megan Abbott is one of the world’s most exciting domestic noir writers. Join the award-winning US author as she discusses her work, including her latest novel, You Will Know Me.

$22/$19 3301 Literature

10:00 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Women Writers in the City

Walking, reading, writing – the actions we take in public space hold specific resonances for women. Essayists Sophie Cunningham, Rebecca Harkins-Cross and Emily Witt explore the relationships between geography and gender.


10:00 AM

MWF Box Office, Fed Square

Walks: The Language of Melbourne

We walk Melbourne's streets every day, but have you ever considered how the city grid shapes the language in which we speak? Nadia Rhook explores how the spatial order of language was made through the colonisation of Kulin land and the politics of Chinese and South Asian migration.

$40 9304 Live & Social

Ticket price includes morning tea at the MWF Festival Club at ACMI at the conclusion of the walk.

11:00 AM

ArtPlay Workshop: Creative Journaling

Be inspired by Asphyxia’s creative art journals – then learn how to make your own! The creator of The Grimstones series will show you how to capture who you are on the page with a range of art supplies and materials in this hands-on workshop.Suitable for ages 9 to 12. Parents are required to stay for kids under 7 years old.

$15 5301 Children & Teens

11:00 AM

Signal Workshop: A Seat at the Table

African artist collective Still Nomads leads a creative writing workshop centred on the transformative work of black women authors such as Zora Neale Hurston, Aileen Moreton-Robinson and Maya Angelou.Suitable for ages 13 to 25.

Free – bookings required:externally ticketed.

6306 Children & Teens

11:30 AM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: The Door

Explore the dark and mysterious world of The Night Owl Chronicles with the Garcia Sisters as they launch the first book in the new YA series, The Door. If you love stories that get under your skin and keep you up at night, this is a must-read!


6301 Live & Social

11:30 Deakin Robert In today’s busy world, leisure time is $22/$19 1302 The Agenda

http://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/EventSearch?&presenter=AUSIGNAL&event=MWF1


AM Edge, Fed Square

Dessaix: On Leisure

more vital than ever, but technology is eroding our work-life balance. Robert Dessaix (Pleasures of Leisure) makes the case for taking leisure seriously – and how taking time off can deepen our understanding of who we are as human beings.

11:30 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Death in the Digital Edge

In an age where the dead can be resurrected as holograms, technology is changing our understanding of both death and reality. Michael Arnold, Simon Longstaff and Elizabeth Tan explore the technological anxiety and ethical implications behind these innovations.Supported by the Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne

$22/$19 3302 The Agenda

11:30 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Gabi Martínez: In the Land of Giants

One of Spain’s most dynamic voices, Gabi Martínez breathes new life into the literary travel genre. In the Land of Giants sees him trace the footsteps of traveller Jordi Magraner, who was mysteriously murdered in 2002. How did this nomadic man live – and die?Supported by Acción Cultural Española


11:30 AM

ACMI The Cube

Climate Change Activism

What are the different factions of climate change activism, and how do they come together in cohesive action? Anna Krien (The Climate Deadlock) and Indigenous


8302 The Agenda

climate activist Amelia Telford discuss the current state of climate change activism, and where it’s heading.

12:00 PM

Atrium, Fed Square

Illustrator in Residence

In these three-hour sessions, see leading illustrators work live from 12pm in the Fed Square Atrium.


9301 Live & Social

1:00 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: The Vandemonian War

Discover the secret history of Britain’s Tasmanian invasion in The Vandemonian War – the real story that governments had buried for nearly two centuries. Join author Nick Brodie in conversation with professor of Australian studies Kate Darian-Smith as they launch this important historical work.


6114 Live & Social

1:00 PM


Women of Substances

Drawing together neuroscientific research and memoir, journalist Jenny Valentish charts the world of substance use in her new book, Woman of Substances. Join her as she explores the gendered experience of drug and alcohol addiction. With Kate Holden.

$22/$19 1303 The Agenda

1:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Feminist Lit: Then & Now

Join Emily Maguire, Melissa Lucashenko and Natalie Kon-yu for a discussion of feminist writing past, present and future. How has feminist writing changed over time? As our understanding of


intersectionality deepens, do classic texts hold up? And where to next? Supported by Feminist Writers Festival

1:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Binge Culture In the age of Netflix, TV shows are ready-made for bingeing. How has this changed screenwriting methods? Reach for the popcorn with Megan Abbott (The Deuce), Brodie Lancaster (No Way! Okay, Fine) and Benjamin Law (The Family Law) as they explore the influence of viewer trends on television.Supported by Victoria University


1:00 PM

ACMI The Cube

Sami Shah: God Damn It

What is the importance of free speech in writing? From acts of blasphemy in religious communities to political dissidence in democracy and the rise of satire in journalism, Sami Shah explores the power of offence – and how it’s never as simple as we think it is.Supported by PEN Melbourne


8303 The Agenda

2:00 PM

ArtPlay Live Game: Dungeon Time

When your best friend has been locked in a dungeon by an evil monster, there’s only one thing to do – go on a quest to rescue them! With the help of Ben McKenzie, kids will create a heroic version of themselves and tell an epic story of adventure in which they save their friend.


Suitable for ages 5 to 8. Parents are required to stay for kids under 7 years old.

2:30 PM


Jennifer Ackerman: The Genius of Birds

Did you know that some species of birds can store up to 2000 songs in a brain a thousand times smaller than a human’s? Acclaimed writer Jennifer Ackerman (The Genius of Birds) delves into the highly intelligent avian world, revealing the sophisticated science behind birds’ brains and behaviours.

$22/$19 1304 The Agenda

2:30 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Deconstructing Health

What can we learn about medicine and wellbeing through writing? Kate Cole-Adams (Anaesthesia) and Kate Grenville (The Case Against Fragrance) discuss what drew them to writing about science and health – and what they learnt along the way.

$22/$19 3304 The Agenda

2:30 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Loneliness & Connectivity

In this technological age, we’re more connected than ever – but does that solve the great human condition of loneliness? Does more choice help or hinder us? Elizabeth Tan and Emily Witt discuss technology’s role in shaping our connections with each other.

$22/$19 4304 The Agenda

2:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

Australian Centre Literary

Join the Australian Centre and The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Arts in congratulating the winners of this

Free – bookings not

8304 Live & Social

Awards year’s literary awards. Prizes are awarded to biography, poetry and best stage play by an Indigenous artist. Hosted by Ken Gelder and Denise Varney, co-directors of the Australian Centre.Supported by the Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne

required

2:30 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Culinary Journey Through Silk Road – Taste of Afghanistan

Join sisters Laila and Roya Khalil in a fun and delicious session to celebrate the launch of their much-anticipated cookbook, Culinary Journey Through Silk Road, a fine collection of traditional dishes from Afghanistan.


6304 Live & Social

3:00 PM

Preston Library

Local Libraries: Gabi Martínez

Meet Gabi Martínez, one of Spain’s most unique and prolific literary writers, as he discusses his body of work, including his most recent book, In the Land of Giants – part travel memoir, part murder mystery.

Free – bookings required: externally ticketed

6307 Literature

3:00 PM

Signal Workshop: Webseries

Learn to make your own webseries with Hayley Adams, creator of i can’t even. Develop a concept and get writing, then film and produce an episode with phones, tablets and laptops.Suitable for ages 13 to 25.

Free, bookings required:externally ticketed


3:30 PM

St Kilda Library

Local Libraries:

What makes a great crime novel? How do authors conjure suspense and

Free – bookings

9303 Literature



https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gabi-martinez-author-talk-tickets-35527421474

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gabi-martinez-author-talk-tickets-35527421474

Megan Abbott intrigue, while delicately crafting the dark worlds of victims and perpetrators? Award-winning American author Megan Abbott (You Will Know Me) gives an intimate insight into the art of crafting crime fiction.

required: externally ticketed

4:00 PM


Beyond Clichés: Women, Religion & Culture

How do women explore identity, religion and culture? Amal Awad (Beyond Veiled Cliches) and Susan Carland (Fighting Hislam) share their stories and research, discussing the ways in which Muslim and Arab women experience the world.

$22/$19 1305 The Agenda

4:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Sheila Fitzpatrick: Mischka’s War

Through diary entries, Mischka’s War follows one man’s journey as a displaced person in WWII Germany, from surviving wartime to starting anew. As both historian and wife to the late subject, author Sheila Fitzpatrick unpacks this incredible true story.

$22/$19 3305 The Agenda

4:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Aboriginal Literature Now

Hear from some of Australia’s most brilliant writers. Claire Coleman explores colonialism from a different perspective in her dystopian novel Terra Nullius, Jane Harrison’s Becoming Kirrali Lewis shares a new story from the Stolen Generations, and Kim Scott’s Taboo follows a young woman cast into the drama of Australian history.


https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/local-libraries-megan-abbott-melbourne-writers-festival-tickets-35747761517

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/local-libraries-megan-abbott-melbourne-writers-festival-tickets-35747761517

4:00 PM

ACMI The Cube

Georgia Blain: The Museum of Words

Celebrate the life and work of late novelist Georgia Blain at this special memorial event and book launch. Guests Sophie Cunningham, Erik Jensen, Chris Healy and Katrina Sedgwick will perform readings of the beloved Australian author’s work. Afterwards Blain’s partner Andrew Taylor will launch her last book, The Museum of Words.


8305 Literature

5:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

My Place In Melbourne

Study Melbourne invites the international students of Victoria to reflect on their time and experience in Australia in either visual or written form. Join us as we announce this year’s competition winners over afternoon tea.Supported by Study Melbourne


8306 Live & Social

6:15 PM


Joyce Carol Oates: Bearing Witness

Writers are not only storytellers – they are also witnesses to the world around them, reflecting and critiquing it through their imagined worlds. Iconic American author Joyce Carol Oates (A Book of American Martyrs) delves into ethics, empathy and bearing witness as a novelist, and how fiction gives both readers and writers the opportunity to explore and understand both sides of complex, multifaceted issues.Supported by the US Consulate General


8:00 PM


Let’s Get in Formation

From musicians and writers to activists and mothers, women have led political actions in countless ways. Join some of the Festival’s most fearless women, including Clementine Ford and Nayuka Gorrie, for a lively evening of performance celebrating revolutionary women. Hosted by Namila Benson.


1307 Live & Social

Sunday 27 AugustTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

MWF Festival Club

Moleskine Coffee & Create

Start your day with a shot of caffeine and a dose of creativity! Join Madeleine Dore and special Festival guests as they reveal the tricks that help their creative lives flourish. Get the insight and inspiration you need to design your creative life – from journaling tips to sparking creativity.Supported by Moleskine


9402 Live & Social

9:30 AM

Fed Square

Mapping Our Future City: Interactive exhibition

Join us on a journey of discovery through a pop-up installation exploring the future of infrastructure, technology, arts, environment and lifestyles. This unique exhibition in the heart of Fed Square will be imaginative, visually striking and use


0000 Live & Social

technology to tell stories and excite imaginations, including a virtual reality experience exploring the construction of the Metro Tunnel. Come along to share your ideas for a better tomorrow.This free interactive exhibition is open daily.Supported by Metro Tunnel and Spacecube

10:00 AM


Creative Women

Across long careers, Kate Grenville, Judy Horacek and Leah Purcell have excelled in their fields of literature, political cartoons and playwriting. Meet these brilliant creative women and discover how they have pushed their creative boundaries to continue redefining career success over time.


10:00 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

History of Neuroscience

Discover the fascinating history of neuroscience with Charles G Gross, one of the field’s leading figures. From Leonardo da Vinci to present practitioners, Gross traces the development of neuroscience over time to show how it evolved into its modern incarnation.Supported by Cosmos

$22/$19 3401 The Agenda

10:00 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Meet Elizabeth

The Shadow Land takes us to politically-charged Bulgaria, where a mourning


Kostova sister makes a startling discovery against a historically rich landscape. Join bestselling author Elizabeth Kostova (The Historian) as she discusses finding hope in the aftermath of loss.

10:00 AM

ACMI The Cube

Protest & Persist: Changing Minds

We are constantly surrounded by people who hold different political values to us – whether it’s at the workplace, in our friendship circles, at family Christmases. When is the right time to speak up and how do you make your point without alienating your listener? This is a roundtable discussion and audience members are invited to take part.


8401 The Agenda

11:00 AM

ArtPlay Workshop: Pitcha Makin Fellas

Meet the Pitcha Makin Fellas! Hear how they made their book What’s in a Name? and work with them to create your own beautiful pictures to take home.Parents are required to stay for kids under 7 years old.


11:00 AM

Signal YA AMA Join two of the Festival’s most exciting YA novelists, Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) and Melissa Keil (The Secret Science of Magic), for a live ask-me-anything session about young adult fiction. Hosted by Danielle Binks (#LoveOzYA).

Free – bookings required:externally ticketed




Suitable for ages 13 to 25.11:30 AM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: A Führer for a Father

Join prize-winning biographer Jim Davidson as he launches a very personal book, chronicling the life and times of his own violent, hostile father. A Führer for a Father examines this man’s relationships across the entire twentieth century. Launched by Kate Darian-Smith and Alex Miller.


6403 Live & Social

11:30 AM


Sofie Laguna: The Choke

Join Miles Franklin winner Sofie Laguna to discuss her new novel The Choke, a haunting and claustrophobic vision of a child in danger and a society in deep trouble.


11:30 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Russia Today The relationship between Russia and Western powers has long been fraught, perhaps never more so than now. Go behind the headlines with Tony Kevin and Sean McMeekin as they provide different perspectives on Russia today, from the past to present.

$22/$19 3402 The Agenda

11:30 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Reality & Fantasy

Claire Coleman, Garth Nix, Sami Shah and Samantha Shannon all use and explore different aspects of the real world in their novels. They discuss how fantasy and dystopian fiction can reflect, interpret and examine our reality.


11:45 ACMI The Protest & Using real-life examples, this panel will Free – 8402 The Agenda

AM Cube Persist: Cultural Appropriation

discuss the differences between cultural exchange, cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, and outline examples of creative collaborations that honour cultural traditions instead of exploiting them. This is a roundtable discussion and audience members are invited to take part.

bookings not required

12:00 PM

Atrium, Fed Square




9401 Live & Social

1:00 PM


David Grann: Killers of the Flower Moon

Dive into one of the FBI’s first major homicide investigations in Killers of the Flower Moon – a gripping exploration of a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma. Investigative journalist and New Yorker staff writer David Grann cracks open the case.


1:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Emily Witt: Future Sex

How have technological advances shaped the way we pursue connections and pleasure in the modern age? From online dating to orgasmic meditation, Emily Witt delves into the ins and outs of this brave new world in Future Sex.

$22/$19 3403 The Agenda

1:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

AI: Towards Worklessness

With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, will humans become redundant in the workplace? Rutger

$22/$19 4403 The Agenda

Bregman, Simon Longstaff, Toby Walsh and Ally Watson discuss the future of worklessness, and its implications for class and social equality.

1:00 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Secret Shores

Bestselling author Ella Carey talks to The Wheeler Centre’s Gabrielle Ryan about her new novel Secret Shores, a romantic story that uncovers long-held secrets. Set in Melbourne’s 1940s Bohemian art world, it’s been described as a historical drama with a stunning twist.


6406 Live & Social

1:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

Protest & Persist: Identity Politics

Identity politics has received a lot of flak lately – from former Labor politician Mark Latham to far-right conservative commentators. Do identity politics play a pivotal role in comprehending the structural barriers that subjugate marginalised minorities, or is there a better alternative? In this debate, you’ll hear from our two opposing teams as they dissect everything they hate and love about identity politics.


8403 The Agenda

2:00 PM


Walks: Wordplay

Weave the city’s matrix with word-nerd David Astle. Explore some quirky local history, hear word stories and get the grey matter working by solving a few tricky riddles along the way.Ticket price includes afternoon tea at the

$40/$30 9404 Live & Social

MWF Festival Club at ACMI at the conclusion of the walk.

2:00 PM

Carnegie Library and Community Centre

Local Libraries: Rebecca Lim

Uncover the art of writing YA fiction with Rebecca Lim. The acclaimed author of Afterlight and The Astrologer’s Daughter will reveal the process behind her creative writing practice – and give you some tricks and tips to help you refine your own.


6402 Literature

2:00 PM

ArtPlay Workshop: Hip-Hop

Lean about hip-hop as a form of musical self-expression with poet and rapper Zohab Zee Khan. Participants will write their own lines, play rhyme games and immerse themselves in fun and positive hip-hop culture. Parents are required to stay for kids under 7 years old.


2:30 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Siren

Join us for the launch of Rachel Matthews’s new novel Siren – a book that sensitively explores violence against women, AFL culture and the silencing of those who speak out. Launched by Stephen Roche.


6404 Live & Social

2:30 PM


Fact to Fiction From politics to the page, journalists Tony Jones (The Twentieth Man) and Dirk Kurbjuweit (Fear) have both used their news desk experience to write thrillers. They discuss how the real world inspires and informs their


https://www.trybooking.com/QCYE

https://www.trybooking.com/QCYE

gripping works of fiction.Supported by Goethe-Institut

2:30 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

The Dark Side of Womanhood

There is a growing interest in depictions of the dark, complicated interior lives of women. How do writers approach these narratives, and what are their literary and cinematic predecessors? Megan Abbott and Joyce Carol Oates shed light on writing the dark side of womanhood.


2:30 PM

ACMI Studio 1

The Bone Season

She’s been called the next JK Rowling for her bestselling fantasy series, The Bone Season – the first book of which was published when she was just 21. Now three novels in, British author Samantha Shannon invites you into her dystopic world.


3:00 PM

ACMI The Cube

Protest & Persist: How to Change the World

So you’re fired up and ready to make a difference. Where do you start? Hear from activists as they outline tangible steps you can take to advance social justice causes you care about and how to differentiate between volunteer-led organisations that are truly making a difference and ones that are exploiting unpaid labour.


8404 The Agenda

3:00 PM

Signal Live Podcast: Starving Artist

Join Honor Eastly for a live recording of Starving Artist, the podcast that explores how to make money creatively. With

Free – bookings required:


guests Brodie Lancaster (No Way! Okay, Fine), Celeste Mountjoy (filthyratbag) and TextaQueen.Suitable for ages 13 to 25.

externally ticketed

3:30 PM

St Kilda Library

Local Libraries: Simon Longstaff

Whether social or moral, huge or relatively inconsequential, ethical quandaries present themselves to us daily. Director of The Ethics Centre Simon Longstaff (Everyday Ethics) reflects on and discusses the importance of all of our choices, no matter how small they may be.


9403 Literature

4:00 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: And Fire Came Down

Join us for the launch of Emma Viskic’s And Fire Came Down – a novel about a deaf private investigator dealing with a murder mystery, loss, racial tensions and secrets. Launched by Toni Jordan.


6405 Live & Social

4:00 PM


Angie Thomas: YA & Activism

Giving voice to young black Americans and chronicling their experiences of racism, The Hate U Give is the year’s most outstanding YA novel. Hear from author Angie Thomas as she argues for writing that can turn the political into the deeply personal as a way to inspire action and speak truth to power. Be inspired by this young, outspoken writer who is ready to hit three truths home: that life fuels art, art mirrors life, and

$25 1406 The Agenda

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https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/local-libraries-simon-longstaff-melbourne-writers-festival-tickets-35747971144

http://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?&presenter=AUSIGNAL&event=MWF4

http://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?&presenter=AUSIGNAL&event=MWF4

books can change lives.4:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

The Art of Life Why is art important to everyday life? Elizabeth Kostova (The Shadow Land) and winner of the 2017 Stella Prize Heather Rose (The Museum of Modern Love) discuss the significance of art in their novels, as well as how the Balkan region informs their work.Supported by The Stella Prize


4:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Investigative Journalism

How does investigative journalism fit into the current media landscape of 24-hour news and infotainment? New Yorker writer David Grann and Buzzfeed’s Christine Kenneally examine longform’s function, future and funding.

$22/$19 4405 The Agenda

4:00 PM

ACMI The Cube

Protest & Persist: Self-care Tips From Activists

‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare,’ wrote Audre Lord in 1988. Fighting against oppressive political, social and economic forces is more important than ever, but how can people stay positive and galvanise themselves? Hear from this panel as they discuss how to take care of yourself in this hyper-connected digital age and why self-care is still considered a radical act.


8405 The Agenda

5:00 ACMI The Protest & Through audio, video and live Free – 8406 The Agenda

PM Cube Persist: Behind the Wire

storytelling, hear the urgent and necessary first-person narratives from narrators living inside immigration detention on Manus Island and Nauru.


6:15 PM


Sean McMeekin: The Russian Revolution

How did the Russian Revolution transform the world forever? Historian Sean McMeekin’s The Russian Revolution sheds new light on the great turning point of the 20th century, examining Russia’s irreversible metamorphosis, the main players who led the charge, and the global powers affected by the chaos over two turbulent decades. Join McMeekin as he explores this fascinating period of world history – and its ongoing implications.Supported by The Monthly

$30/$27 1407 The Agenda

6:30 PM

The Toff in Town

Ned Kelly Awards

The annual Ned Kelly Awards are back! Hosted by Jane Clifton, the awards celebrate Australia’s finest crime writing in a range of categories. The night will feature storytelling, prizes, laughter and more – join us for a criminally good time!Doors and bar open 6pm. Limited seating with plenty of standing room available. 18+ event, ID may be requested.Supported by Australian Crime Writers


6401 Live & Social

Association8:00 PM


Utopia for Realists

Exciting concepts like universal basic income and a 15-hour work week have long been utopian dreams – but can we make them a reality? And why would we? Dutch historian Rutger Bregman makes the case for transforming the way we live and work.


1408 The Agenda

Monday 28 AugustTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

Fed Square




0000 Live & Social

6:00 PM


Shireen Morris: Constitutional Recognition

The Australian Constitution distributes power, but it says nothing in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. How might recognition empower the First Nations to take their rightful place in Australia’s constitutional arrangements? And what about a treaty? Shireen Morris draws on her expertise as a lawyer, constitutional reform fellow and editor of A Rightful Place: A Road Map to Recognition to explore Indigenous constitutional recognition, the Uluru Statement From the Heart and creating an Australia that is fair for all Australians.Supported by The Monthly

$30/$27 1505 The Agenda

6:00 PM

University of Melbourne Forum Theatre, Arts West

Seminar: Journalism

Gain insight into the art and craft of writing longform narrative journalism with The New Yorker’s David Grann. He’ll share his expertise, as well as discussing the role of research, reportage and analysis.Supported by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne

$40/$40 7503 Industry Insights

6:30 PM

Newport Community Hub

Local Libraries: Dennis Glover

Explore the life of George Orwell – and his last and greatest novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four – with acclaimed Australian writer Dennis Glover, who has

Free – bookings required: externally

6504 Literature

http://libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/

reimagined the classic novelist’s final years through fiction in The Last Man in Europe.

ticketed

7:00 PM

Glen Eira Town Hall Theatrette

Local Libraries: Tony Kevin

Part travel memoir, part historical portrait, Return to Moscow explores Russia’s complex history from the perspective of a former Cold War diplomat revisiting for the first time in decades. Discover the great nation through the eyes of Australian writer Tony Kevin.


9501 Literature

8:00 PM


Live Hack: Understanding Metadata

Digital Rights Watch presents a live hack event: how secure is your personal information? Join Amy Gray and Senator Scott Ludlum to discover how easy it is to derive sensitive facts from the digital traces we leave on the open web. Learn more about metadata retention and what you can do to protect yourself.


1506 The Agenda

Tuesday 29 AugustTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

Fed Square

Mapping Our Future: Interactive exhibition

Join us on a journey of discovery through a pop-up installation exploring the future of infrastructure, technology, arts, environment and lifestyles. This unique


0000 Live & Social

https://www.trybooking.com/QCXT

https://www.trybooking.com/QCXT

http://libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/

exhibition in the heart of Fed Square will be imaginative, visually striking and use technology to tell stories and excite imaginations, including a virtual reality experience exploring the construction of the Metro Tunnel. Come along to share your ideas for a better tomorrow.This free interactive exhibition is open daily.Supported by Metro Tunnel and Spacecube

1:00 PM

Victorian Archives Centre

Writing Family Histories

What are the ethical challenges in writing about the people closest to us – and ourselves? Sheila Fitzpatrick, Bram Presser and Henry Rosenbloom share the intricacies of researching and writing their personal family histories.Supported by Ancestry.com.au and Public Record Office Victoria

$22/$19 6600 The Agenda

6:00 PM


Sarah Ferguson: John Button Oration

Respected Australian journalist Sarah Ferguson (Four Corners, The Killing Season, 7.30) dissects the role of the media in a rapidly transforming national and global political environment. Supported by the John Button Fund, Melbourne School of Government, The University of Melbourne

$22/$19 1605 The Agenda

6:00 Queen Sexism as a Facing relentless discrimination, social $22/$19 9601 The Agenda

PM Victoria Women’s Centre, Victoria Room

Mental Health Crisis

stigma and violence, women are expected to succeed in a system that actively works against them. Anni Hine Moana, Zoe Morrison and Jenny Valentish explore the patriarchal structures exacerbating women’s mental ill-health.Supported by Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

6:00 PM


Seminar: Serial Storytelling

From Netflix to podcasts, new ways of consuming culture have changed how stories are told, and what audiences want. Webseries creator Hayley Adams (i can’t even) and TV producer and showrunner Tony Ayres (The Family Law, The Slap) give advice for writers working within these mediums.Supported by the Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne


7:00 PM

Sam Merrifield Library

Local Libraries: Heather Rose

The winner of the 2017 Stella Prize, The Museum of Modern Love is a unique novel about the way art touches and connects ordinary people’s lives. Author Heather Rose discusses the 11-year process behind writing the book.


6604 Literature

7:30 PM

Deakin Edge, Fed

Future of the Written Word

As technology develops, writing and the way we consume it constantly changes

Free – bookings

1606 The Agenda

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/melbourne-writers-festival-heather-rose-the-museum-of-modern-love-tickets-35222263739

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/melbourne-writers-festival-heather-rose-the-museum-of-modern-love-tickets-35222263739

Square form – but will it ever die out, or continue evolving in new, exciting ways? Ben Birchall, Amy Gray, Michael Green and Adam Pugh imagine the future of the written word.

not required

Wednesday 30 AugustTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

Fed Square




0000 Live & Social

1:00 PM

Victorian Archives Centre

Archiving Living Writers

Bernadette Brennan chronicles Helen Garner’s life and work in A Writing Life, while Rachel Buchanan is the curator of

$22/$19 6700 The Agenda

The University of Melbourne’s extensive Germaine Greer Archive. They discuss the process and challenges of researching and archiving these prolific living writers.Supported by Ancestry.com.au and Public Record Office Victoria

6:00 PM


Stephen Dupont: Don't Look Away

Against a backdrop of arresting photographs and film footage, multi-award-winning war photographer Stephen Dupont takes viewers on a powerful journey to the frontlines of Afghanistan, Rwanda, Vietnam and more. The haunting visual presentation is followed by a conversation with Dupont and accompanied by a photographic exhibition.18+ event, ID may be requested.Supported by Canon

$22/$19 1705 Live & Social

6:00 PM

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, Victoria Room

Are Men Ruining Feminism?

More men are starting to identify as feminists – but is their involvement helping the movement, or is it self-serving? What does an effective ally look like? Upulie Divisekera, Clementine Ford and Jane Gilmore deconstruct the man’s role in modern feminism.Supported by Queen Victoria Women's Centre

$22/$19 9703 The Agenda

6:30 PM

Bargoona Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library

Local Libraries: Creating Characters

What do literary characters tell us about who we are? Short story writers Tony Birch and Melanie Cheng discuss creating characters – and how it can be a powerful tool in revealing truths about countries and cultures.


6605 Literature

6:30 PM

St Paul’s Cathedral

Defiant Earth In Defiant Earth, Clive Hamilton ruminates on humankind’s undeniable impact on the planet, and makes the case for a new kind of anthropocentrism. He is joined by Stephen Ames and Ghassan Hage to discuss the best ways in which humans should respond to challenges facing the Earth.

$12 6704 The Agenda

Thursday 31 AugustTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

Fed Square


Join us on a journey of discovery through a pop-up installation exploring the future of infrastructure, technology, arts, environment and lifestyles. This unique exhibition in the heart of Fed Square will be imaginative, visually striking and use technology to tell stories and excite imaginations, including a virtual reality experience exploring the construction of


0000 Live & Social

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/melbourne-writers-festival-presents-local-libraries-creating-characters-registration-35529282039

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/melbourne-writers-festival-presents-local-libraries-creating-characters-registration-35529282039

the Metro Tunnel. Come along to share your ideas for a better tomorrow.This free interactive exhibition is open daily.Supported by Metro Tunnel and Spacecube

5:00 PM


Seminar: Publishing Grattan Street Press

From editorial and production to sales, come behind the scenes to learn more about how the book industry works. Meet the students and academics behind the new Grattan Street Press and hear more about their publishing processes.Supported by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne

$40 7602 Industry Insights

6:00 PM


Gala: A Better Tomorrow

MWF’s sharpest minds deliver an invigorating evening of polemics. This gala event will see writers including Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Jane Caro, Stan Grant, Tony Jones and Omar Musa make individual cases against values and institutions, provoking new possibilities for a better society. Nothing is off-limits for these bold, outspoken thinkers – come and hear their visions for a brighter, more equal tomorrow. With a performance by host Clare Bowditch.Supported by Monash University

$45/$35 1002 The Agenda

6:00 Camberw Local Award-winning Australian novelist Free – 6806 Literature

PM ell Library

Libraries: Hannah Kent

Hannah Kent discusses her atmospheric and intriguing new novel, The Good People. Set in 19th-century Ireland, the novel centres around three women who are brought together by strange and troubling events – and the superstitions that illuminate their journey.

bookings required: externally ticketed

6:30 PM

Realm (Ringwood Library)

Local Libraries: AS Patrić

The winner of the 2016 Miles Franklin prize, Black Rock White City is an essential look into the refugee experience, and how it affects generations, in suburban Australia. Author AS Patrić unpacks his acclaimed novel.


6804 Literature

7:00 PM

Monash Art Gallery

Local Libraries: Tim Flannery

Acclaimed scientist Tim Flannery (Sunlight and Seaweed) explores the new – and existing – technologies that could save the planet. From innovative renewable power sources to the potential in kelp to reduce carbon, discover the range of possibilities already on earth that point towards a brighter future.

Free – bookings required

6805 Literature

8:30 PM


Janet Mock: Visibility & Voice

Meet internationally acclaimed transgender rights activist Janet Mock, author of Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty – memoirs that share her experiences of growing up

$45/$35 1003 The Agenda

https://web.erl.vic.gov.au/web/webcal.php?t=1501509600

https://web.erl.vic.gov.au/web/webcal.php?t=1501509600

https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/events/melbourne-writers-festival-hannah-kent

https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/events/melbourne-writers-festival-hannah-kent

poor, multiracial and trans in America, and her journey into the highly competitive New York media. Mock draws on her experience as a journalist and prominent trans woman to speak about the power of storytelling in media and popular culture, the history of trans women in feminist, LGBTI and social justice movements, and the importance of visibility and voice.

Friday 1 SeptemberTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

Fed Square


Join us on a journey of discovery through a pop-up installation exploring the future of infrastructure, technology, arts, environment and lifestyles. This unique exhibition in the heart of Fed Square will be imaginative, visually striking and use technology to tell stories and excite imaginations, including a virtual reality experience exploring the construction of the Metro Tunnel. Come along to share your ideas for a better tomorrow.This free interactive exhibition is open daily.Supported by Metro Tunnel and


0000 Live & Social

Spacecube10:00 AM


In Search of Good Governance

How did Australian politics get to its current demoralised state? What needs to change for good governance to return? Join journalists George Megalogenis and Laura Tingle as they explore the past, present and future of Australian politics.

$22/$19 1901 The Agenda

10:00 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Second-Generation Narratives

The second-generation Australian experience is reflected in many new works of literature. How does an understanding of place, home and family inform storytelling – and increase understanding about migration? Randa Abdel-Fattah, Maxine Beneba Clarke, AS Patrić and Alice Pung explore.

$22/$19 3901 The Agenda

10:00 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Cold War Games

How do politics play out on the sporting field? Exploring the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Harry Blutstein (Cold War Games) reveals how East – West tensions and propaganda manifested in sport during the Cold War – and how governments used Olympic enthusiasm to their advantage.

$22/$19 4901 The Agenda

10:00 AM

ACMI The Cube

Asia What?: Indigenous Connections

What is the relationship to indigeneity within the diverse identities of Asian and Pacific communities? As settlers, what role do Asian Australians play in the


8901 The Agenda

ongoing colonial project? Eugenia Flynn, Bruce Pascoe and Steven Winduo investigate and perform readings of their work.Presented in partnership with the Asian Australian Democracy Caucus

10:00 AM

University of Melbourne, Arts West, Room 553

Masterclass: Translation

Learn the process of translation – including its challenges – as Taiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi discusses his novel, The Stolen Bicycle, and his experience of having his work translated.Supported by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne

$140/$120

7902 Industry Insights

11:00 AM

Dandenong Library

Local Libraries: Osamah Sami

Join writer, director, comedian and spoken word artist Osamah Sami in this special event for City of Greater Dandenong students and young adults. Sami presents insights into his extraordinary life experiences and writing across books, film and TV.Supported by the City of Greater Dandenong


0901 Literature

11:30 AM


Reni Eddo-Lodge: On Race

British journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge (Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race) explores the issues surrounding white supremacy, feminism, class and race through her research, political analysis and lived experience as

$22/$19 1902 The Agenda

a black woman. How can those who’ve never personally experienced racism acknowledge and help fight it, while not speaking over marginalised voices?

11:30 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Revolutionary Women

Joan of Arc, Queen Victoria: two women who radically changed the course of history. What can we learn about them by looking at their stories anew? Ali Alizadeh (The Last Days of Jeanne d’Arc) and Julia Baird (Victoria: The Queen) discuss.


11:30 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Alzheimer’s in Fiction

How is the experience of Alzheimer’s disease – as patient, carer or onlooker – reflected in fiction? Rachel Khong (Goodbye, Vitamin) and Harriet McKnight (Rain Birds) explore the condition’s effect on family, friends and loved ones in their debut novels.


12:00 PM

Atrium, Fed Square




9901 Live & Social

12:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

Asia What?: Genealogies of the Body

What makes bodies ‘Asian’? How do the histories that we carry and the narratives around us shape our bodies? A movement performance by Sangeetha Thanapal and Shinen Wong will be followed by a gentle participatory


8902 The Agenda

workshop, giving attendees an opportunity to reflect on their own bodies.Presented in partnership with the Asian Australian Democracy Caucus

1:00 PM


Politicians as Personalities

What's more important in politics: personality or policy? Judith Brett (The Enigmatic Mr Deakin), Rebecca Huntley (Still Lucky) and Laura Tingle (In Search of Good Government) discuss what makes a great politician – and what happens when personal ambition is put ahead of party priorities.

$22/$19 1903 The Agenda

1:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

The Fifth Estate: Hindu Nationalism in India

Hindu Nationalism is on the rise in India today. How does it impact Hindus, religious minorities in India and other countries in the region? Join authors Barkha Dutt, Meena Kandasamy and Shashi Tharoor as they talk politics and religion in the world’s largest democracy. Hosted by Sally Warhaft.Supported by the Wheeler Centre

$22/$19 3903 The Agenda

1:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Nir Baram: A Land Without Borders

Over his 18-month journey around the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Nir Baram witnessed the region’s complicated and ongoing conflict – and the lives entangled in it. Join the Israeli journalist as he uncovers difficult truths

$22/$19 4903 The Agenda

about life during civil war.2:00 PM

University of Melbourne, Arts West, Room 256

Masterclass: Creative Nonfiction

How do writers inject creativity into nonfiction writing? Kyo Maclear (Birds Art Life) leads a masterclass on the art of creative and narrative nonfiction, offering tips and tricks for new and seasoned writers to take their work to the next level.Supported by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne

$140/$120

7903 Industry Insights

2:15 PM

ACMI The Cube

Asia What?: Beyond Authenticity

From Japanese geisha stereotypes to the Yellow Peril, what narrative boxes are Asians put in? Hear readings from Allison Chan, Ra Chapman and Melanie Cheng, followed by a brainstorm workshop to share your speculative narratives of Asian Australia.Presented in partnership with the Asian Australian Democracy Caucus


8903 The Agenda

2:30 PM


History & Place

Stories about the interior lives of women have resonated with readers for centuries. How do contemporary writers evoke such tales through history and place – and why are they so enduring? Award-winning writers Tracy Chevalier (At the Edge of the Orchard) and Hannah Kent (The Good People) discuss.


2:30 ACMI Housing Housing has become favoured for $22/$19 3904 The Agenda

PM Cinema 1 Affordability investment over shelter, with Australians accumulating larger amounts of debt in order to purchase property. What stress is this placing on the economy, and what is the effect on homelessness and other inequality? Lyn Craig, Glyn Davis and George Megalogenis investigate.Supported by the Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne

2:30 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Will Democracy Win?

Is the resurgence of populist and right-wing, nationalist demagoguery a threat to democracy? Join Tony Birch, Jeff Sparrow and Micah White as they discuss whether our system of government can survive these attacks to its integrity. Are we still convinced that democracy will spread around the globe? Supported by Overland

$22/$19 4904 The Agenda

4:00 PM


Media & Society

A civilised democracy needs vibrant public interest journalism. Join pillars of the industry Julia Baird, Eric Beecher and Jamila Rizvi for a rigorous discussion on the state of Australian media and its role – and responsibility – in the shaping of our society.Supported by Australian Communities

$22/$19 1905 The Agenda

Foundation4:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

The Fifth Estate: American Power in the Middle East

As Syria endures its seventh year of conflict, join Independent correspondent Robert Fisk and American foreign policy expert Timothy Lynch to examine foreign political involvement in the region. How are the interventions of world and regional powers intensifying conflict, and are we witnessing the collapse of American power in the Middle East? Hosted by Sally Warhaft.Supported by the Wheeler Centre

$22/$19 3905 The Agenda

4:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Happy Endings

What is the enduring appeal of happy endings in love stories? Maggie Alderson (The Scent of You), Mel Campbell and Anthony Morris (co-authors of The Hot Guy), and Fiona Lowe (Daughter of Mine) explore this common trope and reveal their approaches towards happily ever after.


4:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

Asia What?: Writers Across Borders

Enjoy an intercultural exchange with writers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Through live performance, David Carlin, Daryll Delgado, Martin Villanueva, Francesca Rendle-Short, Nhã Thuyên, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven and others showcase their work with the


8905 The Agenda

WrICE program.Presented in partnership with the Asian Australian Democracy Caucus and supported by WrICE

6:00 PM


Seminar: Writing Another

Indian-Canadian novelist Anosh Irani (The Parcel) and Singapore’s Kevin Kwan (Rich People Problems) lead this seminar on how to write diverse characters without speaking over real-life identities, and writers’ responsibilities when it comes to storytelling.Supported by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne


6:15 PM


Nancy MacLean: Alan Missen Oration – Democracy in Chains

Discover the hidden backstory of the American radical right’s political agenda. Nancy MacLean exposes the six-decade-long strategy spearheaded by economist James McGill Buchanan in the 1950s to disempower democracy and entrench corporate control – and how it is undermining the power of voters in a country founded on the principle ‘We the people’.Supported by The Monthly, Liberty Victoria and the Alan Missen Foundation

$30/$27 1906 The Agenda

7:00 PM

Geelong Library

Local Libraries:

Meet feminist writer Meena Kandasamy as she peels back the layers on her

Free – bookings

Literature

and Heritage Centre

Meena Kandasamy

courageous autofiction novel When I Hit You – an exploration of love, domestic violence, and the pitfalls of traditional wedlock in modern India.

required: externally ticketed

8:30 PM


TEX From The Cruel Sea to Beasts of Bourbon, Tex Perkins is a prolific force in Australian music. The rock icon discusses his life and career as chronicled in his memoir, TEX – then puts his musical prowess on show with a live performance.Supported by 3RRR 102.7FM and The Melbourne Gin Company

$30/$27 1907 Live & Social

Saturday 2 SeptemberTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

Fed Square


Join us on a journey of discovery through a pop-up installation exploring the future of infrastructure, technology, arts, environment and lifestyles. This unique exhibition in the heart of Fed Square will be imaginative, visually striking and use technology to tell stories and excite imaginations, including a virtual reality experience exploring the construction of the Metro Tunnel. Come along to share


0000 Live & Social

http://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/whats-on/melbourne-writers-festival-meena-kandasamy

http://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/whats-on/melbourne-writers-festival-meena-kandasamy

your ideas for a better tomorrow.This free interactive exhibition is open daily.Supported by Metro Tunnel and Spacecube

10:00 AM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Just Another Week in Suburbia

Join Les Zig to launch his debut novel, Just Another Week in Suburbia – a psychological drama that explores the complexities of human relationships, both in Australian fiction and in life. Launched by Lucy Bell and Ryan O’Neill.


6302 Live & Social

10:00 AM


The Cultural Revolution

With unprecedented access to previously classified party documents, historian Frank Dikötter’s The Cultural Revolution sheds new light on the Chinese Cultural Revolution. What was it like to live through this period of national upheaval, and how did it change the face of China forever?


10:00 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Towards Inclusivity

In an often racist world, how do we fight intense hatred both individually and as communities – and keep hope alive? Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Renni Eddo-Lodge and Sami Shah speak up, and suggest ways to move towards inclusivity.

$22/$19 3101 The Agenda

10:00 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Meet Wu Ming-Yi

With comparisons to Atwood and Murakami, award-winning author Wu Ming-Yi is one of Taiwan’s finest writers.


The prolific author showcases his impressive body of work, including his latest novel, the enigmatic and moving The Stolen Bicycle.

10:00 AM

ACMI The Cube

Readings Recommends: Family & Grief

Celebrate the very best in new Australian fiction with Readings. Join Melanie Joosten (Gravity Well) and Eliza Henry-Jones (Ache) to discuss their work’s themes of grief, trauma and family.Supported by Readings


8101 Literature

10:00 AM


Walks: Birds Art Life

Join editor of Australian Birdlife Sean Dooley and bestselling author Kyo Maclear (Birds Art Life) for a bird walk. Discover local bird species and habitats, and learn how to apply the core lessons of birding to other aspects of creative life.Ticket price includes morning tea at the MWF Festival Club at ACMI at the conclusion of the walk.

$40 9105 Live & Social

10:00 AM

NGV Australia, Theatre

Travel Baggage

Can travelling help us find hope during the darkest times of our lives? Lisa Dempster (Neon Pilgrim) and Sheridan Jobbins (Wish You Were Here) recount their adventures – and how packing their bags helped them put themselves back together.


11:00 AM

ArtPlay Workshop: The Patchwork Bike

Learn about recycling, upcycling and environmental waste with bestselling author Maxine Beneba Clarke’s first children’s book, about a group of kids who get inventive and build a bike from scratch. Learn how to draw with illustrator Van T Rudd, who shares his work from the book.


11:30 AM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Because of You

Join award-winning YA author Pip Harry as she launches her latest novel, Because of You. Inspired by her experiences volunteering at a homeless shelter writing group, the book examines human resilience, mental health and life-changing friendship. Harry appears in conversation with Nikki McWatters.


6108 Live & Social

11:30 AM


Intergenerational Warfare

From housing affordability and workplace security to education, millennials are faced with unique challenges – but is it worse than what previous generations went through, or just different? Mark Davis, Rebecca Huntley, and Jamila Rizvi explore.

$22/$19 1102 The Agenda

11:30 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Rape Culture As feminism gains mainstream prominence, the concept of rape culture has become more widely recognised – but has this recognition actually changed anything? Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin,

$22/$19 3102 The Agenda

Meena Kandasamy, Patricia Lockwood and Laurie Penny unpack the insidious phenomenon, from women’s day-to-day lives to cultural and institutional enablement. Supported by Queen Victoria Women's Centre

11:30 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Brian Castro: Blindness & Rage

In Blindness and Rage, Patrick White Award winner Brian Castro asks questions of literary fate and authorship. Join the esteemed Australian writer as he peels back the layers of his challenging new allegorical verse novel.


11:30 AM

ACMI The Cube

Readings Recommends: Readings Prize Shortlist

Celebrate the very best in new Australian fiction with Readings. This session features two authors shortlisted for the 2017 Readings Prize.Supported by Readings


8102 Literature

11:30 AM


Sarah Schmidt: See What I Have Done

Lizzie Borden took an axe. Or did she? Discover Sarah Schmidt’s startling debut, See What I Have Done, and journey into the eerie world she has created to share a new take on the life of one of America’s most infamous women.


12:00 PM

Atrium, Fed Square




9101 Live & Social

12.30 PM

Dandenong Library

Local Libraries: Meg & Tom Keneally

Enjoy a light lunch, meet fellow bookworms and go behind the scenes of the Monsarrat series with authors Meg and Tom Keneally. The father–daughter writing duo will discuss Australia’s convict history, and how it has influenced and inspired their work.


0101 Literature

1:00 PM


Living in Trump’s America

What is the experience of minorities living in Trump’s America? How do people survive and resist when they live in a country with an antagonistic leader? Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Min Jin Lee and Micah White report in.

$22/$19 1103 The Agenda

1:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Tim Flannery: Sunlight & Seaweed

Discover the new – and existing – technologies that could save our planet. From innovative renewable power sources to the possibilities of kelp as a carbon reducer, acclaimed scientist Tim Flannery makes a compelling case for an optimistic future.

$22/$19 3103 The Agenda

1:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Meet Maggie Alderson

Stop and smell the roses with Maggie Alderson, one of the world’s best-selling writers, as she discusses her latest novel, The Scent of You – a heady exploration of love, loss and forgiveness through the eyes of a perfume blogger.


1:00 PM

ACMI The Cube

Readings Recommends:

Celebrate the very best in new Australian fiction with Readings.

Free – bookings

8103 Literature

Dystopian Fiction

Discover speculative fiction writers Sally Abbott (Closing Down) and Jane Rawson (From the Wreck).

not required

1:00 PM

Frankston Library

Local Libraries: Zoë Morrison

Exploring themes of violence and survival through the transformative lens of music, Music and Freedom is a powerful and affecting read. Join author and musician Zoë Morrison as she peels back the layers of her Readings Prize–winning novel.


9102 Literature

1:00 PM


This Unquiet Land: Stories from India's Fault Lines

Contemporary India embodies multiple – and often uncomfortable – intersections of culture, religion, growth and tradition, and frequently sends out shockwaves as it changes. Hear from leading Indian journalist Barkha Dutt (This Unquiet Land: Stories From India’s Fault Lines) who has spent over two decades mapping these tremors.

$22/$19 6104 The Agenda

1:00 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Wish You Were Here

Much-loved personality Amanda Keller joins author and screenwriter Sheridan Jobbins in an intimate conversation to launch Wish You Were Here. They investigate the best recipes for mending broken hearts and open up about how the most difficult times in life can also be the most hilarious.


6118 Live & Social

2:00 MWF Box Walk along Ticket price includes afternoon tea at the $40 9305 Live &

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/zoe-morrison-tickets-35451752145

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/zoe-morrison-tickets-35451752145

PM Office, Fed Square

the Yarra MWF Festival Club at ACMI at the conclusion of the walk.

Social

2:00 PM

ArtPlay Live Game: Dungeon Time

Your best friend has been locked in a dungeon by an evil monster! Luckily you’re a mighty adventurer. In this roleplaying game with Ben McKenzie, create your hero character, deck them out in special gear, then charge into the dungeon to tell your story of heroic rescue!Suitable for ages 11 to 12. Parents are required to stay for kids under 7 years old.


2:30 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Aukati – Boundary Lines

Join award-winning writer Michalia Arathimos as she launches her debut novel, Aukati: Boundary Line – a timely and topical story about fracking, land destruction, Indigenous rights and choosing between loyalty to family and what’s morally right.


6107 Live & Social

2:30 PM


Rise of the Right Wing

From Pauline Hanson to the United Patriots Front, Australian right-wing extremism is flourishing. How did we get here – and what’s next? Go behind the headlines with Anna Broinowski, Stan Grant and David Marr to discover more about the rise of conservatism in

$22/$19 1104 The Agenda

Australia.2:30 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Kyo Maclear: Birds Art Life

What can bird-watching teach us about life? Birds Art Life is a meditation on how inspiration, beauty and solace can be found in the natural world, based on a year in author Kyo Maclear’s life. Join her as she shares her discoveries.


2:30 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Decolonising Feminism

What does a truly intersectional approach to feminism look like? Reni Eddo-Lodge, Nayuka Gorrie and Ruby Hamad examine the whiteness of modern feminism and discuss how to decolonise the movement.

$22/$19 4104 The Agenda

2:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

Readings Recommends: Australian Crime

Celebrate the very best in new Australian fiction with Readings. Uncover brilliant local crime writers Sarah Bailey (The Dark Lake) and Mark Brandi (Wimmera).Supported by Readings


8104 Literature

2:30 PM

Beaumaris Library

Local Libraries: Sofie Laguna

Sofie Laguna (The Eye of the Sheep) is back with The Choke, a novel narrated by a child navigating a dark and uncaring world of violence. Join the Miles Franklin–winning author as she discusses her gripping new book.


9103 Literature

2:30 PM


Steven Carroll: A New England Affair

Join one of Australia’s best contemporary authors Steven Carroll to discuss A New England Affair, the third


https://www.trybooking.com/285807

https://www.trybooking.com/285807

book of his acclaimed Eliot Quartet. An intense account of a love that never finds the right moment, be swept away by the romantic story of TS Eliot's muse, Emily Hale.

4:00 PM


Pop Culture & Feminism

How does pop culture help young women make sense of their place in the world? Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Hera Lindsay Bird, Brodie Lancaster and Patricia Lockwood talk representation, diversity and online support networks – and how TV, music and the internet are shaping the next generation of feminists.

$22/$19 1105 The Agenda

4:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Meet Sam Dastyari

In literature as in life, Sam Dastyari’s memoir is unexpected and unorthodox. Meet the man behind the media portrayal, and discover One Halal of a Story – a no-holds-barred look at the good and bad of family, politics and being Sam.


4:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

The End of Protest

From the Women’s March to Occupy and Standing Rock, we have entered a new wave of activism – but is protest working? Celeste Liddle, Laurie Penny and Micah White discuss the need for innovation in activism to enact real political change.

$22/$19 4105 The Agenda

4:00 ACMI The Readings Celebrate the very best in new Free – 8105 Literature

PM Cube Recommends: YA Book Prize

Australian fiction with Readings. Meet the winner of the inaugural Readings Young Adult Book Prize.Supported by Readings


4:00 PM


Film Essays Discover the film essay genre with two leading artists. Director and producer Santilla Chingaipe and writer–director John Hughes share their insights, passions and industry experience on telling documentary stories.Supported by Victoria University


5:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

Readings Recommends: Short Stories

Celebrate the very best in new Australian fiction with Readings. Hear from Melanie Cheng (Australia Day), Jennifer Down (Pulse Points) and Ryan O’Neill (Their Brilliant Careers), who will each read a short story from their collections.Supported by Readings


8106 Literature

6:00 PM

Doncaster Library

Local Libraries: Julia Baird

One of Australia’s leading journalists, Julia Baird explores the extraordinary story of Queen Victoria in her new book, Victoria: The Queen, painting the revolutionary ruler in a new light. Join her as she reveals a fascinating, provocative life.


6109 Literature

6:15 PM

Deakin Edge, Fed

Shashi Tharoor:

In 1947, India regained independence after almost 200 years of British rule – a

$30/$27 1106 The Agenda

https://wml.spydus.com/Events/

https://wml.spydus.com/Events/

Square Colonialism in India

period that was both culturally and economically damning, with almost 35 million Indians dead from British acts of commission and omission, and an unprecedented plunge into abject poverty. Join Indian author and politician Shashi Tharoor (Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India) as he explores the disastrous consequences of colonialism, and how India continues to rebuild since the colonisation that has been called 'the greatest crime in all history'.Supported by The Monthly

6:30 PM

Walker Street Gallery & Arts Centre

Storytelling Live: Tomorrow

From dreams to fears, humour to heartbreak, the concept of Tomorrow means different things to different people. Join us for an entertaining night of storytelling, as some of MWF’s finest artists share their thoughts, ideas and stories on what comes after today.Supported by the City of Greater Dandenong


0102 Live & Social

8:00 PM


Louder Together

Writers resist! Join the Festival’s most exciting poets and thinkers, including Meena Kandasamy, Jeff Sparrow, Nhã Thuyên and Ellen van Neervan, for an explosive and energising performance


1107 Live & Social

event exploring solidarity and collectivism – because we’re louder together. Hosted by Omar Musa.

Sunday 3 SeptemberTIME VENUE SESSION


CODEPROGRAM STREAM

9:30 AM

MWF Festival Club

Moleskine Coffee & Create

Start your day with a shot of caffeine and a dose of creativity! Join Madeleine Dore and special Festival guests as they reveal the tricks that help their creative lives flourish. Get the insight and inspiration you need to design your creative life – from journaling tips to sparking creativity.Supported by Moleskine


9112 Live & Social

9:30 AM

Fed Square


Join us on a journey of discovery through a pop-up installation exploring the future of infrastructure, technology, arts, environment and lifestyles. This unique exhibition in the heart of Fed Square will be imaginative, visually striking and use technology to tell stories and excite imaginations, including a virtual reality experience exploring the construction of the Metro Tunnel. Come along to share your ideas for a better tomorrow.


0000 Live & Social

This free interactive exhibition is open daily.Supported by Metro Tunnel and Spacecube

10:00 AM


Robert Drewe: Whipbird

What happens when a dysfunctional family tries to put tensions aside to celebrate a milestone? Beloved author Robert Drewe discusses his exhilarating new novel, Whipbird – a classic family saga told in a uniquely Australian way.


10:00 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Anosh Irani: The Parcel

A gripping literary page-turner, The Parcel follows a transgender sex worker in Bombay who is given an unexpected task. Join critically-acclaimed Indian–Canadian author Anosh Irani to discuss his novel’s themes of identity, gender, choice and redemption.


10:00 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Reimagining Literary Figures

Dennis Glover (The Last Man in Europe), Ryan O’Neill (Their Brilliant Careers) and Marija Peričić (The Lost Pages) explore the lives and motivations of literary figures real and imagined. From Kafka to Orwell, discover the appeal – and sometimes absurdity – of writers writing about writers.


10:00 AM

ACMI The Cube

Muslim Girl She founded muslimgirl.com at just 17, and is now a leading international feminist and activist. Amani Al-

Free – bookings not

8111 The Agenda

Khatahtbeh discusses growing up Muslim in post-9/11 America, and how she turned hardship into a revolution for young women just like her.

required

10:00 AM

Fed Square

Harry Potter Day

Accio good times! Whether you’re a Muggle, wizard or Squib, join us for a free all-ages celebration of 20 years of the boy who lived. With live performances, a Sorting Hat, story time and more, share in the magic of the wizarding world with Professor Frankie Falconette. Wear your Hogwarts robes for a chance to win prizes. Mischief managed!



11:00 AM

ArtPlay Workshop: Fiction Writing

Power up your imagination and learn to write fiction with novelist and short-story writer Christopher Raja in this creative writing workshop. Parents are required to stay for kids under 7 years old.


11:00 AM

ACMI Smart Stories Let the power of your imagination take you on a journey to a world of wonder. Hear from award-winning children’s authors and take part in fun storytelling sessions.Recommended for families. For more information, visit ACMI’s Smart Stories.Presented as part of ACMI’s Free Family



https://www.acmi.net.au/events/family-sundays-smart-stories

Sundays11:30 AM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Poets and Painters – Celebrating the Big Punchbowl

Eighteen painters and poets explored The Big Punchbowl, a private reserve on Tasmania’s east coast, immersing themselves for several days. This book is a breathtaking collection of responses to what they saw, heard and experienced and a celebration of the connection between art and nature.


6303 Live & Social

11:30 AM


Women & Success

How can women overcome sexism to succeed in male-dominated industries? Drawing on research and personal experience, seasoned feminists and journalists Jamila Rizvi (Not Just Lucky) and Tracey Spicer (The Good Girl Stripped Bare) discuss the structural barriers facing women of all ages in the workplace.

$22/$19 1112 The Agenda

11:30 AM

ACMI Cinema 1

Meg & Tom Keneally: The Unmourned

In the depths of the Parramatta Female Factory, the latest mystery unravels. Join Australian literary greats Meg and Tom Keneally as they discuss their latest Monsarrat novel, The Unmourned.


11:30 AM

ACMI Studio 1

Media Storm How have technological advances changed the way we talk about the weather? In The Weather Obsession, journalist Lawrie Zion explores the role of the internet and media in reframing

$22/$19 4112 The Agenda

our relationship with weather, as well as shaping our understanding of climate change.

11:30 AM

ACMI The Cube

Bruce Pascoe: Fog a Dox

Bruce Pascoe discusses his Prime Minister's Literary Award–winning young adult classic, Fog a Dox. This story of courage, acceptance and respect integrates Indigenous cultural knowledge and awareness in finely crafted storytelling.Recommended for children and teens.



1:00 PM

Atrium, Fed Square




9111 Live & Social

1:00 PM


Understanding Extremism

What drives people towards political and religious radicalism? From US Republicans to ISIS supporters and the Ku Klux Klan, Nir Baram, Nancy MacLean and John Safran explore the factors at play in, and the psychology behind, extremism today.

$22/$19 1113 The Agenda

1:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Min Jin Lee: Pachinko

An epic tale spanning four generations of a family, taking them from Korea to Japan, Pachinko explores themes of love, death and survival. Author Min Jin Lee discusses her sprawling new novel, and how it ties into her own heritage and


identity.1:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Mark Baker: Thirty Days

After his wife of 32 years died of stomach cancer, Mark Baker sought to bring her back to life through the magic of memory. He reflects on love, intimacy, grief and the mysteries of life and death in Thirty Days.


1:00 PM

ACMI The Cube

Kyo Maclear & Shaun Tan: Imagination

Hear beloved children’s author Kyo Maclear (Virginia Wolf) and Australian legend Shaun Tan (The Singing Bones) share their storytelling process and how they inspire imagination in young readers.Recommended for children and teens.



1:00 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: A New England Affair

Award-winning author Steven Carroll launches his latest novel, A New England Affair, in which he breathes new life into the story of TS Eliot’s muse, Emily Hale. The book is the third instalment in his acclaimed Eliot Quartet series.


6117 Live & Social

2:00 PM

ArtPlay Workshop: Poetry & Verse

Learn to write poetry with Hera Lindsay Bird. From delving into metaphor to evoking general whimsy, this workshop nurtures the poets of tomorrow. Parents are required to stay for kids under 7 years old.


2:30 PM

Deakin Edge, Fed

On Revolution As MWF draws to a close, eleven brilliant writers will share their take on the


Square Festival's theme of revolution. Featuring Daryll Delgado, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Martin Villanueva, Steven Winduo and leading writers from across Australia and the Asia Pacific. Sit back and enjoy a chorus of voices and perspectives.

2:30 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Dissent Within

What happens when your beliefs go against the majority of those within your religion, culture or minority group? From pro-queer Christians to a pro-Palestine Jewish academic, hear from Na’ama Carlin, Angus Mcleay and Tim Kroenert as they discuss the tensions between belonging and belief.

$22/$19 2114 The Agenda

2:30 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Meet Kevin Kwan

Kevin Kwan’s satirical novel Crazy Rich Asians became an international bestseller in 2013 and is now being made into a major motion picture. Meet the man behind the hit and discover his latest novel, Rich People Problems, which is as brilliantly abundant in drama and glitz as his previous works.


2:30 PM

ACMI The Cube

#LoveOzYA Celebrate local YA with the best in the biz! #LoveOzYA authors Amie Kaufman, Melissa Keil, Ellie Marney and Alice Pung discuss the importance of representation, telling Australian stories



and why YA is important for teens and adults alike. With Danielle Binks.Recommended for teens and young adults.

2:30 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Hot Off the (Small) Press

Celebrating independent publishing and the diverse titles that have come out of this year’s Small Press Network Mentorship Program, join us for the launch of new books from Affirm Press, the Lifted Brow, Lip Magazine, Miscellaneous Press, Three Kookaburras, Monash University Publishing, Celapene Press and Empowering Resources.


6112 Live & Social

2:30 PM

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

New Shoots: A Garden of Poems

Unearth the poetic inspiration of plants and place with Australian poets. Join Bonny Cassidy, Elena Gomez, Duncan Hose, Carissa Lee, Cameron Lowe, Bruce Pascoe, Ryan Prehn, Autumn Royal, Maria Takolander and Chris Wallace-Crabbe for a poetic tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens.This is a walking tour, which will follow accessible pathways around the Gardens. The event will start from the Royal Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, at the Observatory Precinct on Birdwood Avenue. Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. The event


6111 Live & Social

http://newshoots-mwf.eventbrite.com/

http://newshoots-mwf.eventbrite.com/

will go ahead, rain or shine – bring an umbrella. Your booking will include afternoon tea after the event.

4:00 PM

Beer DeLuxe

Book Launch: Hippy Days, Arabian Nights

Join Melbourne artist Katherine Boland in conversation with Sian Prior about her new memoir, Hippy Days, Arabian Nights. From living in a hippy community on the Eastern seaboard of Australia to finding love in Egypt, hear about her adventurous life.


6113 Live & Social

4:00 PM


Julian Burnside: Injustice

From legal aid and class actions to assisted dying, asylum seeker rights and counter-terrorism, the law in Australia has immense reach – but it also has its shortcomings. Delving into the chequered history of the Australian legal and justice system, and drawing on his extensive professional experience, barrister and former Liberty Victoria president Julian Burnside (Watching Out) presents an eloquent defence of civil society and makes a compelling case for legal liberalism in Australia.Supported by The Monthly

$30/$27 11115 The Agenda

4:00 PM

ACMI Cinema 1

Meet Tracy Chevalier

Meet bestselling author Tracey Chevalier to discuss her expansive body of work over two decades, including Girl with a Pearl Earring and her latest novels, New


Boy and At the Edge of the Orchard – and hear how art and history inspire her writing.

4:00 PM

ACMI Studio 1

Lia Hills: The Crying Place

Journeying into the heart of the Australian desert, The Crying Place is a haunting novel about love, grief and country. Author Lia Hills is interviewed by Tony Birch about her new novel and its exploration of the transformative power of place.


5:00 PM

The Toff in Town

Queer Literary Salon

MWF’s beloved Queer Literary Salon is back for another year! Join Hera Lindsay Bird, Norman Pasaribu, Laurie Penny, Raina Peterson and Omar Sakr for a celebratory evening of revelry, revelation and revolution, all centred around the world’s best queer literary voices. Hosted by Karen From Finance. Doors and bar open 4.30pm. Limited seating with plenty of standing room available. 18+ event, ID may be requested.Supported by Star Observer

$30/$27 6101 Live & Social

6:30 PM


Robert Fisk: Closing Night Address

The West has long fought its wars on foreign soil. From his experience covering wars in Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Afghanistan and Lebanon, The Independent’s renowned Middle Eastern

$45/$35 1004 The Agenda

correspondent Robert Fisk explains why foreign adventures no longer come free of charge – because we are no longer safe at home.

7:30 PM

The Toff in Town

Closing Night Party

We’ve had a huge two weeks of thought-provoking discussion, laughter and social events – what a Festival! Now it’s time to shake it all off with drinks and dancing, to farewell yet another stellar MWF in style.18+ event, ID may be requested.


6102 Live & Social

TICKETING INFORMATIONEvent TimesFestival events are one hour in duration, unless otherwise stated.

Passes5 Pass: Save 19% on five standard Festival events.$89/$79

10 Pass: Save 23% on 10 standard Festival events.$169/$159

Group BookingsSave 15% when you book in a group of six or more.

GETTING TO THE FESTIVALFed Square is easily reached by public transport. The closest train station is Flinders Street. Tram routes 1, 3, 3A, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 and 72 go to stop 13 on Swanston Street (Flinders Street Station); 35, 70 and 75 go to stops 5 (Flinders Street Station) and 6 (Russell Street) on Flinders Street, near Fed Square. Timetable information is available from Public Transport Victoria by calling 1800 800 007 or visiting ptv.vic.gov.au. Free bike racks are available in and around Fed Square. Public car parking is available at Fed Square and in Flinders Lane. A taxi rank is located outside Flinders Street station.

melbourne writers festival 25 august – 3...

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