Variety & Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Summit presented by Paramount+, explores the art of documentary, investigative and political storytelling.

Don’t miss exclusive keynote conversations and panel discussions with leading documentary filmmakers, journalists, and cultural trendsetters making an impact.
 
Registration for the live stream is free but required for access.  

Register for Virtual Access

Agenda

Documentary Roundtable

R.J. Cutler - Academy Award Nominated & Emmy Winning Filmmaker, “Martha,” “Elton John: Never Too Late”
Bao Nguyen - Emmy & Grammy Nominated Filmmaker, “The Greatest Night in Pop”, "The Stringer"
Elegance Bratton - Director, Producer & Writer, “Move Ya Body: The Birth of House”
Mary Robertson - EP, “The Fall of Diddy” & Founder, Maxine Productions
Jennifer Tiexiera - Director & Producer, “Rebecca,” “Speak.”
Dan Krauss - Director, “Bodyguard of Lies”

Meet the minds behind recent breakout documentaries. What are strategies to land upon a topic and drive a compelling narrative around a true story? Standout documentary filmmakers lift back the curtain on their experiences. 

The State of Documentary Industry

Dan O'Meara - EVP, Nonfiction, NEON
Sylvia Bugg - Chief Programming Executive & GM of General Audience Programming, PBS
Carrie Lozano - President & CEO, ITVS
Cara Cusumano - Festival Director & SVP Programming, Tribeca
Karol Martesko-Fenster - CEO/President, Abramorama

A look at the current state of doc development, production and distribution. What platforms are on the biggest hunt for docs?  What is the role that film festivals are playing in the doc filmmaking business? Who are key players helping to push docs from greenlight to screen? 

Masters of True Crime and Investigative Storytelling

Ben McKenzie - Actor & Director, “Everyone is Lying to You For Money”
Julia Willoughby Nason, “American Murder: Gabby Petito”
Joe Berlinger - EP, “Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders,” Director & EP, “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey”
Lisa Cortés - Director & EP, “Murder Has Two Faces”

An exploration into the leaders of fan favorite true crime genre who continue to break new ground in investigative storytelling. How are filmmakers revealing new information, finding new leads and bringing something fresh to known crime stories? How might filmmakers approach the responsibility in working in this genre, such as balancing sensitivities with victims' families? Masters of true crime and investigative storytelling tell all. 

Conversation with Ronny Chieng, Stand Up Comedian and Emmy-Winning Correspondent, The Daily Show

Ronny Chieng - Stand Up Comedian and Emmy-Winning Correspondent, "The Daily Show"

Truth Seekers Award Presentation & Q&A

Jake Tapper - Lead Washington Anchor, CNN, Host, "The Lead with Jake Tapper" and Co-Author, "Original Sin"

Keynote Conversation with “Have I Got News For You”

Amber Ruffin - Host, “Have I Got News For You”
Roy Wood Jr. - Host, “Have I Got News For You”

Close up on "Bodyguard of Lies"

Dan Krauss - Director, “Bodyguard of Lies”
Craig Whitlock - Reporter, The Washington Post
Susan Zirinsky (Moderator) - President, See It Now Studios

Keynote Conversation with “Room to Move”

Amy Schumer - EP, “Room to Move”
Alexander Hammer - Director, Cinematographer & Editor, “Room to Move”
Jenn Freeman - Subject, “Room to Move”

Speakers 

Joe Berlinger

Joe Berlinger

EP, “Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders,” Director & EP, “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey”

Elegance Bratton

Elegance Bratton

Director, Producer & Writer

“Move Ya Body: The Birth of House”

Sylvia Bugg

Sylvia Bugg

Chief Programming Executive & GM of General Audience Programming

PBS

Ronny Chieng

Ronny Chieng

Stand Up Comedian and Emmy-Winning Correspondent

"The Daily Show"

Lisa Cortés

Lisa Cortés

Director & EP

“Murder Has Two Faces”

Cara Cusumano

Cara Cusumano

Festival Director & SVP Programming

Tribeca

R.J. Cutler

R.J. Cutler

Academy Award Nominated & Emmy Winning Filmmaker

“Martha,” “Elton John: Never Too Late”

Dan Krauss

Dan Krauss

Director

“Bodyguard of Lies”

Ben McKenzie

Ben McKenzie

Actor & Director

“Everyone is Lying to You For Money”

Julia Willoughby Nason

Julia Willoughby Nason

“American Murder: Gabby Petito”

Bao Nguyen

Bao Nguyen

Emmy & Grammy Nominated Filmmaker

“The Greatest Night in Pop”, "The Stringer"

Dan O'Meara

Dan O'Meara

EVP, Nonfiction

NEON

Mary Robertson

Mary Robertson

EP, “The Fall of Diddy” & Founder

Maxine Productions

Amber Ruffin

Amber Ruffin

Host

“Have I Got News For You”

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer

EP

“Room to Move”

Jake Tapper

Jake Tapper

Lead Washington Anchor, CNN, Host, "The Lead with Jake Tapper" and Co-Author, "Original Sin"

Craig Whitlock

Craig Whitlock

Reporter

The Washington Post

Roy Wood Jr.

Roy Wood Jr.

Host

“Have I Got News For You”

Susan Zirinsky (Moderator)

Susan Zirinsky (Moderator)

President

See It Now Studios