Sydney Writers Festival

SESSION 1: 10AM – 11AM

Julia Baird: Bright Shining 

Hear from broadcaster and Phosphorescence author Julia Baird, whose latest book, Bright Shining, is a beautiful, timely exploration of that most mysterious but necessary human quality: grace. With Jacqueline Maley. - AUSLAN

SESSION 2: 12AM – 13PM

Viet Thanh Nguyen: A Man of Two Faces 

Hear celebrated author Viet Thanh Nguyen, hailed as “a conscience of American literature” (The New Yorker), discuss his new work with writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law.

SESSION 3: 2PM – 3PM

Suzie Miller: Prima Facie 

Put the courts on trial with lawyer turned Olivier Award–winning playwright Suzie Miller as she discusses novelising her theatrical triumph that tackles sexual assault. In conversation with Nicole Abadee.

SESSION 4: 4PM – 5PM

Julian Borger: I Seek a Kind Person

“I seek a kind person who will educate my intelligent boy, aged 11.” An extraordinary 1938 personal advertisement that started Julian Borger’s quest into his father’s past and the story of Holocaust survival. With Michaela Kalowski.

SESSION 5: 6PM – 7PM

Fantastical Worlds 

Imagine another world with popular fantasy authors Garth Nix (The Old Kingdom series), Shelley Parker-Chan (The Radiant Emperor duology) and Samantha Shannon (The Roots of Chaos series). Hosted by Aimée Lindorff.

SESSION 1: 10AM - 11AM

A.C. Grayling: The Meaning of Life in a Technological Age

The quest for a life worth living has been the business of philosophers for millennia. How can we pursue answers to life’s big questions in an increasingly unstable technological age? Join pre-eminent philosopher A.C. Grayling for this special talk.

SESSION 2: 12PM - 1PM

The War on Journalists

With conflict continuing in Ukraine, and the death toll of journalists in Gaza reaching alarming proportions, we look at the role of journalists in war. Featuring Julian Borger, John Lyons, Alisa Sopova and Anastasia Taylor-Lind. Hosted by Hamish Macdonald.

SESSION 3: 2PM - 3PM

Abdulrazak Gurnah: Afterlives 

Explore his writing and unpack the legacies of empire with acclaimed writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, whose 10th novel explores displacement, loss and love during and after German occupation of East Africa. With Sisonke Msimang.

SESSION 4: 4PM - 5PM

Feminist Firebrands 

Four waves in, the feminist fight for gender equality is far from over. Writers and activists Hannah Ferguson, Sisonke Msimang and Jennifer Robinson discuss the most pressing issues facing women today with host Jo Dyer.

SESSION 5: 6:00PM - 7:00PM

5km From the Frontline 

Hear from journalist Alisa Sopova and photographer Anastasia Taylor-Lind, whose extraordinary documentary photography series offers a unique, personal and deeply affecting look at the Ukraine war. With ABC RN’s Hamish Macdonald.

SESSION 6: 7:30PM - 9:00PM

Queerstories 

Celebrating the culture and creativity of the LGBTQI+ community one true story at a time, Queerstories has played to crowds big and small, from Mudgee to Murwillumbah, Albury to Adelaide, Brisbane and beyond. Featuring J.M. Field, George Haddad, Bebe Oliver, K Patrick and Samantha Shannon. - AUSLAN

SESSION 1: 10AM - 11AM

Celeste Ng: Our Missing Hearts 

Sit down with New York Times bestselling author Celeste Ng, whose smash hit Little Fires Everywhere was adapted into a miniseries starring Reese Witherspoon. Listen in as she discusses her new dystopian novel with Claire Nichols.  

SESSION 2: 12PM - 1PM

Trent Dalton: From Eli to Lola 

Trent Dalton, award-winning author of Boy Swallows Universe (now a hit Netflix series) returns with Lola in the Mirror, a big, beautiful novel about grappling with our past, present and possible futures. In conversation with Cassie McCullagh. - AUSLAN

SESSION 3: 2PM - 3PM

Storytellers: Leigh Sales and Lisa Millar

ABC legends Leigh Sales (Storytellers) and Lisa Millar (Muster Dogs) unpack the craft of turning real life events into narrative, drawing from their recent books and a combined 65 years in journalism. 

SESSION 4: 4PM - 5PM

Katy Hessel: The Story of Art without Men

Enter art historian and curator Katy Hessel’s The Story of Art Without Men, a response to E.H. Gombrich’s classic chronicle, The Story of Art, first published in 1950, which was recently updated to include... one woman.

Katy’s revisionist history builds on her popular podcast and Instagram account, The Great Women Artists, where her fresh approach has garnered fans worldwide and earned her a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.

Overturn art history as you know it with Katy, in conversation with curator Beatrice Gralton.

SESSION 5: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

Sad Girl? Bad Girl? Mad Girl?

Hear from debut Australian novelists Nadine J. Cohen (Everyone and Everything), Madeleine Gray (Green Dot) and Jessie Stephens (Something Bad is Going to Happen) about making and breaking the rules of ‘sad girl’ literature. In conversation with The Guardian’s Steph Harmon. 

SESSION 6: 7:30PM - 8:30PM

Sebastian Barry: Old God's Time 

Sit down with Ireland’s Fiction Laureate Sebastian Barry and host Kate Evans to discuss the Booker Prize longlisted Old God’s Time, followed by a live performance of Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 by Max Bruch arranged for cello and piano with Melissa Barnard and Lee Dionne from the ACO. Sebastian appears via video link. 

REMOTE GUEST

SESSION 1: 10AM - 11AM

Barrie Cassidy and Friends: State of the Nation

Relive all the thrills and spills of the year in Australian politics with veteran journo Barrie Cassidy and his hand-picked squad of the country’s sharpest pundits: Bridget Brennan, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva and Laura Tingle. - AUSLAN

SESSION 2: 11:30PM - 12:30PM

Play Like a Girl 

Relive all the thrills and spills of the year in Australian politics with veteran journo Barrie Cassidy and his hand-picked squad of the country’s sharpest pundits: Bridget Brennan, Amy Remeikis, Niki Savva and Laura Tingle. 

SESSION 3: 1:30PM - 2:30PM

David Wengrow: The Dawn of Everything

Transform your understanding of human evolution with professor of archaeology David Wengrow, whose groundbreaking work with the late David Graeber overturns theories on the origins of farming, cities, democracy, slavery and civilisation itself. In conversation with ABC RN’s Richard Fidler.

SESSION 4: 3:30PM - 4:30PM

Dark Technologies: Exposing the technology of modern warfare 

Hear about the role of emerging technologies in conflict and occupation with Walkley Award–winning journalist Antony Loewenstein (The Palestine Laboratory), artificial intelligence expert Toby Walsh (Faking It) and host Michael Richardson.  

SESSION 5: 5:30PM - 6:30PM

Closing Address: Kate Manne on the Future of Misogyny 

Philosopher Kate Manne is heralded for her vivid, rigourous analysis on misogyny in her books Down Girl and Entitled. Join Kate for a compelling exploration of what she believes lies ahead.