Counted Out

Math affects everything we do, whether we realize it or not. But the United States lags far behind most developed countries in that field, negatively affecting everything from politics to science to healthcare to equality. But all is not lost as filmmaker Vicki Abeles points toward a better, brighter, more equitable future.“I just don’t get math” is a common sentiment heard in all walks of American life. For better or worse, our relationship with math shapes our perceptions of ourselves, our potential, and our place in the world. COUNTED OUT asks why this affects so many, digging deeper to examine our culture of math education and institutional unfairness. With inquisitiveness and human empathy, this documentary shows how our relationship to math has shaped our political and social reality through factors such as gerrymandering and biased algorithmic models that unfairly shut out everyday people from opportunities. Providing fascinating data and a holistic but urgent point of view, COUNTED OUT prompts audiences to ask questions about the statistics we are provided and to challenge the systems that hold many back. —C.F.WORLD PREMIEREGUEST(S) IN ATTENDANCE