The Conversation Starts Here.
Variety & Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Summit presented by SHOWTIME®, explores the art of documentary and investigative storytelling.
Don’t miss exclusive keynote conversations and panel discussions with leading documentary filmmakers, journalists, and cultural trendsetters making an impact and effecting change.
Registration for the live stream is free but required for access.
Questions? Email kzanardi@pmc.com
Chatroom Networking Opportunities
Virtual Panel Discussions & Keynote Conversations with Industry Leaders
On-Demand Access to Conversations
Agenda
| Wednesday, August 2, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Variety & Rolling Stone's Opening Remarks | 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | ||
| Truth Seekers Award & Q&A - Rachel Maddow | 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM | Host of the Emmy Award-winning “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC will be honored with the 2023 Variety and Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Award, recognizing her extensive accomplishments in journalism, followed by a Q&A about her experience in the news industry. | Rachel Maddow - Host, The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC Ramin Setoodeh (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety |
| Washington Political Roundtable | 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | Leading journalists converge to share their approach to covering the dynamic but volatile world of key political players and trends. | Laura Barrón-López - White House Correspondent, PBS NewsHour Mary Bruce - Chief White House Correspondent, ABC News Mehdi Hasan - Host, The Mehdi Hasan Show and Political Analyst, MSNBC Noah Shachtman (Moderator) - Editor-in-Chief, Rolling Stone |
| Keynote Conversation with Roy Wood Jr. | 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM | Hear about Wood, Jr.'s approach to engaging audiences with his candor and comedic outlook on current events and culture. | Roy Wood Jr. Alex Morris - Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone |
| Conversation with Dawn Porter | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Find out about Porter's filmmaking experiences on the Showtime four-part documentary series "Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court," which explores the history of the Supreme Court’s justices and major decisions. | Dawn Porter Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety |
| "Couples Therapy" Conversation with Dr. Orna Guralnik | 12:00 PM - 12:20 PM | Dr. Orna Guralnik Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety | |
| Closer Look at the Innocence Project with Jason Flom | 12:20 PM - 12:35 PM | Jason Flom - Founding Board Member, The Innocence Project and CEO and Co-Founder, Lava Media and Lava for Good Jem Aswad (Moderator) - Executive Editor, Music, Variety | |
| The Art of Investigative Storytelling | 1:30 PM - 2:10 PM | A look at the creative minds behind breakout investigative and true crime storytelling. What are the latest trends in deciding on subject matter, landing the right interviews and building an entertaining narrative for audiences? | Tracy Pattin - Co-Producer & Host, "Variety Confidential" Shannon Evangelista - Executive Producer, "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace" Mike Gasparro - Executive Producer, "Shiny Happy People," "Duggar Family Secrets; Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal" Sarah Amos - VP, Development & Production (Non-Fiction TV, Documentaries) and Executive Producer, Condé Nast Entertainment, "The Secrets of Hillsong" Jehane Noujaim - Director and Executive Producer, "The Vow" Zach Heinzerling - Director, "Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence" Kate Storey (Moderator) - Senior Features Editor, Rolling Stone |
| Conversation with Laverne Cox | 2:10 PM - 2:30 PM | Find out about Laverne’s work as an LGBTQ+ advocate | Laverne Cox Aramide Tinubu (Moderator) - TV Critic, Variety |
| Conversation with Sacha Jenkins | 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM | Sacha Jenkins Jem Aswad (Moderator) - Executive Editor, Music, Variety | |
| Documentary Filmmaker Roundtable | 2:50 PM - 3:30 PM | An exploration of leaders in documentary filmmaking who are elevating the entertainment category to new creative heights. What is their approach to crafting narratives around real subjects and their stories? | Liz Garbus, “Harry & Meghan" Dan Cogan, “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York" Sam Pollard, "The League" Lisa Cortés, "Little Richard: I Am Everything" Roger Ross Williams, "The 1619 Project" Addie Morfoot - Contributing Writer, Variety |
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM ET
Variety & Rolling Stone's Opening Remarks
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM ET
Truth Seekers Award & Q&A - Rachel Maddow
Host of the Emmy Award-winning “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC will be honored with the 2023 Variety and Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Award, recognizing her extensive accomplishments in journalism, followed by a Q&A about her experience in the news industry.
Rachel Maddow - Host, The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC
Ramin Setoodeh (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM ET
Washington Political Roundtable
Leading journalists converge to share their approach to covering the dynamic but volatile world of key political players and trends.
Laura Barrón-López - White House Correspondent, PBS NewsHour
Mary Bruce - Chief White House Correspondent, ABC News
Mehdi Hasan - Host, The Mehdi Hasan Show and Political Analyst, MSNBC
Noah Shachtman (Moderator) - Editor-in-Chief, Rolling Stone
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM ET
Keynote Conversation with Roy Wood Jr.
Hear about Wood, Jr.'s approach to engaging audiences with his candor and comedic outlook on current events and culture.
Roy Wood Jr.
Alex Morris - Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Conversation with Dawn Porter
Find out about Porter's filmmaking experiences on the Showtime four-part documentary series "Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court," which explores the history of the Supreme Court’s justices and major decisions.
Dawn Porter
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety
12:00 PM - 12:20 PM ET
"Couples Therapy" Conversation with Dr. Orna Guralnik
Dr. Orna Guralnik
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety
12:20 PM - 12:35 PM ET
Closer Look at the Innocence Project with Jason Flom
Jason Flom - Founding Board Member, The Innocence Project and CEO and Co-Founder, Lava Media and Lava for Good
Jem Aswad (Moderator) - Executive Editor, Music, Variety
1:30 PM - 2:10 PM ET
The Art of Investigative Storytelling
A look at the creative minds behind breakout investigative and true crime storytelling. What are the latest trends in deciding on subject matter, landing the right interviews and building an entertaining narrative for audiences?
Tracy Pattin - Co-Producer & Host, "Variety Confidential"
Shannon Evangelista - Executive Producer, "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace"
Mike Gasparro - Executive Producer, "Shiny Happy People," "Duggar Family Secrets; Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal"
Sarah Amos - VP, Development & Production (Non-Fiction TV, Documentaries) and Executive Producer, Condé Nast Entertainment, "The Secrets of Hillsong"
Jehane Noujaim - Director and Executive Producer, "The Vow"
Zach Heinzerling - Director, "Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence"
Kate Storey (Moderator) - Senior Features Editor, Rolling Stone
2:10 PM - 2:30 PM ET
Conversation with Laverne Cox
Find out about Laverne’s work as an LGBTQ+ advocate
Laverne Cox
Aramide Tinubu (Moderator) - TV Critic, Variety
2:30 PM - 2:50 PM ET
Conversation with Sacha Jenkins
Sacha Jenkins
Jem Aswad (Moderator) - Executive Editor, Music, Variety
2:50 PM - 3:30 PM ET
Documentary Filmmaker Roundtable
An exploration of leaders in documentary filmmaking who are elevating the entertainment category to new creative heights. What is their approach to crafting narratives around real subjects and their stories?
Liz Garbus, “Harry & Meghan"
Dan Cogan, “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York"
Sam Pollard, "The League"
Lisa Cortés, "Little Richard: I Am Everything"
Roger Ross Williams, "The 1619 Project"
Addie Morfoot - Contributing Writer, Variety
Speakers
2023 Partner
Sponsorship & Table Sales
Michelle Fine- Smith
michelle.fine-smith@variety.com
Registration & Group Ticket Rates
Flavio Gomez
flgomez@variety.com
Programming
Susanne Ault
susanne.ault@variety.com
Sponsorship |
Registration & General Inquiries |
Programming |
|---|---|---|
Michelle Fine-Smith |
Flavio Gomez |
Susanne Ault |