In a year—a critical election year, at that—where the concept of “truth” is tested daily, Rolling Stone and Variety have teamed up again to host the fourth annual Truth Seekers Summit, presented by Paramount+. Taking place on August 15th in New York City, the exclusive invitation-only event will celebrate the journalists, documentarians, creatives, and notable figures in the media and entertainment industry who honor the truth with every fiber of their being.
Featuring a range of keynotes and panel discussions, the Summit will focus on excellence in documentary storytelling, navigating the political landscape, true crime, and other essential topics.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Variety and Paramount+ for the fourth annual Truth Seekers Summit,” said Gus Wenner, CEO of Rolling Stone. “This project aligns with our core mission to champion deep, investigative storytelling.”
Headlining the Summit will be Wenner interviewing Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief) about his remarkable achievements in documentary filmmaking. Variety’s Co-Editor-in-Chief, Ramin Setoodeh, will sit down with Nancy Grace, host of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and founder and publisher of CrimeOnline, where they will delve into Grace’s extensive career covering true crime. Susan Zirinsky, President of See It Now Studios at CBS News, will participate in a featured fireside chat—while John Walsh, host and executive producer of America’s Most Wanted, and his son, AMW co-host, Callahan Walsh, discuss “Trailblazers in Investigative Reporting.”
Political comedy will be in the spotlight as world-renowned radio host and personality Charlamagne tha God leads the “Best Mashup—Politics, Humor Pop Culture” panel alongside Tony, Emmy and WGA Award-nominated writer and comedienne Amber Ruffin and The Daily Show correspondent Lewis Black.
The “True Crime Masters Tell All” panel will examine true crime projects, featuring filmmakers Muta’Ali Muhammad (MoviePass MovieCrash, Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn), Christian Hansen (executive producer, American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders), Amara Cofer (host and co-creator, Black Girl Gone), Brian Knappenberger (director, Trials of Gabriel Fernandez and Turning Point), and Andrew Jarecki (executive producer/creator, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst).
Lastly, noteworthy documentarians such as Rahman Ali Bugg (director, Exposing Parchman, Welcome to Rap City), Alex Stapleton (director, God Save Texas), and Nanette Burstein (director, executive producer, Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes) will be featured on the Documentary Panel, where they will chop it up about finding compelling narratives that captivate and educate viewers.
“We are very excited to once again join forces with Rolling Stone and Paramount+ to put together this important summit,” Variety’s COO and CMO, Dea Lawrence, said. “Truth Seekers provides a vital platform for journalists and documentary filmmakers.”
In the coming weeks, more speakers and panels will be announced to an already jam-packed lineup.
In conjunction with the Truth Seekers Summit, Variety and Rolling Stone will produce a special print issue. The issue will feature original and archival stories highlighting the iconic brands’ longstanding commitment to the truth while expanding on the Truth Seekers ethos. It will be distributed to a select group of Variety and Rolling Stone subscribers.
For those who won’t be able to attend the Truth Seekers Summit in the Big Apple, you can register for virtual access here.
