GUILTY – the film about the final 72-hours of Bali-9’s Myuran Sukumaran – will screen in each state, as part of a national screening event on Wednesday 10 October 2018 – World Day Against The Death Penalty.
The film depicts the final days in the life of Myuran Sukumaran, the convicted criminal who became an accomplished artist on death row under the tutorship of artist Ben Quilty. In the film, clinical preparations for capital punishment contrast with Myuran’s indomitable spirit as he creates some of his most powerful paintings just before his execution by an Indonesian firing squad alongside fellow Australian Andrew Chan in April 2015.
Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were fully rehabilitated men at the time of their executions. GUILTY shows the tragic loss of their lives and the horrific impact the executions had on their families.
This film – and these screening events – are to support organisations working towards worldwide abolition of the death penalty at a time when the Australian government is negotiating a resolution on a moratorium on the death penalty in the United Nations.
Myuran Sukumaran’s mother, Raji Sukumaran says of the film: “Myuran would be so happy that this film has been made, he wanted us to let people know that the death penalty is wrong.”
At screenings around Australia, there will be presentations by human rights advocates and the GUILTY filmmaking team including Matthew Sleeth (director/co-writer), Maggie Miles (producer/co-writer), Raji Sukumaran, Julian McMahon AC SC, Pastor Christie Buckingham (Myuran Sukumaran’s spiritual advisor at his execution), actor Adam McConvell, journalist/actor Bela Kusumah Kasim, Barrister-at-Law Stephen Keim SC, Georgie Bright (Human Rights Watch), Daniel Webb (Human Rights Law Centre), representatives from Amnesty International and many others yet to be announced.
Julian McMahon AC SC represented both Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, and is President of Reprieve Australia, the anti-death penalty lobby group. He says, “We see that not only are some nations continuing to execute – 23 countries did so in 2017 – but we also see new and populist regimes calling for the reintroduction of the death penalty, or for more executions. We must show leadership in combating those political strategies which embrace executing or the promotion of the death penalty as a political tool. As we consider what we can do in our region, the film GUILTY can be part of our argument.”
NATIONAL EVENT SCREENINGS – ALL TAKING PLACE ON 10 OCTOBER 2018
NSW
Human Rights Watch & Reprieve Australia- Dendy Opera Quays, Sydney
Speakers: Mark Davis, Dr Chris Ward, Laura Thomas (Barrister and HRW Australia Committee member)
Savage Films – Art Gallery of NSW
Speaker: Matthew Sleeth (co-writer & director, GUILTY)
Amnesty screening – Dendy Newtown, Sydney
Speakers to be announced.
VICTORIA
Human Rights Watch and Human Rights Law Centre – Cinema Nova
Speakers: Moderator from Human Rights Watch, Daniel Webb, Judge Michael O’Connell
FMIA – Indonesian Community Group – Hoyts Melbourne Central
Speakers: Bela Kusumah Kasim (actor/guard and journalist) and speakers from the Indonesian community.
Bayside Church & Reprieve – Hoyts Southland
Speakers: Pastor Christie Buckingham, Rob Buckingham, Julian McMahon AC SC
Bayside Church Frankston – Village Karingal
Thornbury Picture House, Melbourne
Speakers: Gus Berger (Moderator), Cindy Wockner (journalist & Author, The Pastor & the Painter)
QLD
Human Rights Watch/ Reprieve Australia Screening – Palace Barracks Brisbane
Speakers: Stephen Keim SC, Patron of the Julian Wagner Memorial Fund and Australians Against Capital Punishment.
Georgie Bright (Moderator: Human Rights Watch).
Amnesty screening – Event Cinemas Townsville City & Event Cinemas Townsville Central
Amnesty screening – Event Cinemas Cairns City
ACT
National Gallery of Australia screening – NGA, James O Fairfax Theatre
Speakers: Richard Lewer and others to be announced.
Grace Canberra – Event Cinemas Manuka
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Amnesty screening – Palace Nova Eastend
Speakers: Chris Drummond (Hive), Sue Herbert (AIA).
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Amnesty screening – Windsor Cinemas, Nedlands, Perth
TASMANIA
Amnesty screening – State Cinema Hobart
NORTHERN TERRIRORY
Deck Chair Cinema, Darwin
Speaker: Co-writer/producer Maggie Miles.
For more information on the film, please visit www.guiltyfilm.com.au
