Zeg 2025
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This year at ZEG, our partner BMW is inviting you to experience a movement of your own — not just through words and stories, but behind the wheel of the electric BMW iX.
Thoughtfully designed and brilliantly engineered, the BMW iX isn’t just a car — it’s a vision in motion. It’s a statement about where the world is going, and how we choose to move with it.
Whether you’re an urban explorer, a design enthusiast, or someone who simply believes in driving change — this experience is being offered to you.
Meeting Point: In front of the Main Stage
Duration: 5-12 mins
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
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*Registration will be open everyday from 10:00 AM at the main stage
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Writing, Comedy and the Lifeline of Satire
Susan Morrison in conversation with Shazna Nessa
How do you cover a presidency and a political movement built on chaos, disruption, and relentless attacks on the press? Shazna Nessa sits down with Susan Morrison, New Yorker editor and author of Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, to explore how satire and humor might get us through.
Josh Hersh with Branko Brkic
Live podcast recording with The Kicker, Columbia Journalism Review's podcast exploring media in a changing world. Josh Hersh sits down with legendary editor and media innovator Branko Brkic, founder of Daily Maverick and Project Kontinuum, to unpack how independent journalism survives—and thrives—in hostile environments.
A Crash Course on Georgia with Giorgi Lomsadze
Start your festival with clarity, insight, and a few laughs at the bewildering, at times terrifying, most often beautiful madness that is Georgia. Whether you're visiting for the first time, back for more, or even call this place home, join acclaimed journalist Giorgi Lomsadze for a must-attend crash course on Georgia's fast-moving politics, culture, and contradictions.
Where Language, Geography, and Politics Meet
Andres Ilves
Polyglot and former BBC journalist, Andres Ilves, leads an interactive workshop exploring how language and naming shape identity, power, and conflict. Through real-world case studies and lively discussion, participants discover why words matter—from disputed borders to cultural self-definition—and how language can divide, unite, oppress, or liberate.
AI-Powered Technologies and Privacy
Clém Poure, Francesca D'Annunzio, Nico Schmidt moderated by Joanna S. Kao
Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever for governments, law enforcement, and companies to surveil citizens. Pulitzer Center AI fellows discuss their reporting on workplace surveillance and AI-powered border technologies.
Powered by Pulitzer Center
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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Leadership, Marketing, and the Art of Authentic Inspiration
Joe Sabia in conversation with Mariam Tavberidze
How do you build narratives around hope when the world feels hopeless? And what's the difference between authentic inspiration and empty motivational speak? Joe Sabia, who's spent his career translating complex stories into compelling experiences, sits down with Mariam Tavberidze, who just launched TBC's "Just Believe" campaign, in a moment when belief feels both urgent and fragile.
Powered by TBC Concept
Howto Cover the Messy, Complicated Middle
Claudia Milne, Jon Lee Anderson and Rachel Corp, moderated by Emma Lacey-Bordeaux
In a world obsessed with hot takes and hard lines, four storytellers argue for the value of nuance. How do we cover the gray areas—and why does it matter more than ever? This session explores the art of telling stories that resist easy answers and embrace complexity, with insights from some of journalism’s sharpest minds.
How Opening Doors for Women Changes Everything
Özlem Cekic in conversation with Matthew Pye
What happens when more women have a real say in how decisions get made? Talking to Matthew Pye, Özlem Cekic shares stories from her work in Denmark and beyond, showing how bringing more women into the conversation sparks fresh ideas, fairer outcomes, and stronger communities.
Powered by UN Women and Nordic Council of Ministers
Power, Art, and the Truths We're Not Supposed to See
Salomé Jashi in conversation with Oliver Bullough
How do you tell stories about power that hides in plain sight? And what can art and journalism do when the truth itself is seen as too dangerous to show? Oliver Bullough sits down with acclaimed filmmaker Salomé Jashi, whose Sundance-nominated documentary Taming the Garden captures the surreal spectacle of Bidzina Ivanishvili uprooting Georgia's ancient trees for his private pleasure.
Protecting Press Freedom in Challenging Times
As Georgia's media landscape faces unprecedented challenges, this invitation-only roundtable brings together global press safety experts Jon Williams (Rory Peck Trust, CPJ) and Jodie Ginsberg (Committee to Protect Journalists) with frontline Georgian and exiled journalists to discuss critical survival strategies. This closed-door, Chatham House Rules conversation session will map the complex threats facing independent media: from digital harassment and legal intimidation to economic pressures and direct threats.
(ONLY SIGN UP)
Powered by Rory Peck Trust & Committee to Protect Journalists
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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How the Past Fuels New Authoritarians
Garry Pierre-Pierre, Natalia Antelava and Jillian Green, moderated by Julie Posetti
From the US and Brazil to South Africa, the Philippines and Georgia, nostalgia is fueling new forms of authoritarianism. How do journalists and writers confront the seductive power of the past, and what happens when memory is manipulated for political gain? This session explores how longing for "the good old days" can be twisted into a tool for control, and what it takes to challenge weaponized memory with truth, creativity, and courage.
Powered by ICFJ / Disarming Disinformation Project
What Democracy Under Pressure Can Teach the World
Jason CH Liu in conversation with Nataliya Gumenyuk
What can the world learn from Taiwan’s frontline experience with disinformation, resilience, and defending democracy? Taiwanese activist Jason CH Liu joins Ukrainian journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk to share new research and lessons from Taiwan’s ongoing struggle against digital threats and authoritarian pressure. Together, they explore how civic innovation, community vigilance, and creative resistance have helped Taiwan push back—and what these strategies mean for other democracies facing similar challenges.
War Survivors Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
"Seize the Summit" follows four young survivors of war - from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine - as they undertake a thrilling journey to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Director and Producer Arwa Damon.
Disinformation, Democracy, and the Election That Shook Europe
Adelin Petrișor in conversation with Masho Lomashvili
Romania’s presidential election result saw pro-western Romanians sigh a relief. But it was a fraught political battle, a warning for democracies everywhere: a far-right populist surging dangerously close to the top, a flood of Russian-backed disinformation, TikTok-fueled chaos, and an annulled result that left public trust in tatters. Romanian war reporter Adelin Petrișor sits down with Georgian journalist Masho Lomashvili to unpack what really happened, how the media struggled to keep up, and what the rest of Europe–and Georgia–should learn from Romania’s “democracy on the edge” moment. From the mechanics of digital manipulation to the human cost of eroded trust, this is a story about the new frontlines of democracy and the battle for truth in the age of algorithmic politics.
Crafting Compelling Grant Narratives for Storytelling Projects
Davide Monteleone
Join award-winning photographer and National Geographic Explorer Davide Monteleone for a hands-on workshop on securing funding for ambitious storytelling projects. Learn how to craft proposals that blend analytical depth with emotional impact, create realistic budgets, assemble powerful work samples, and build essential relationships with funders like National Geographic and the Pulitzer Center. Walk away with practical tools to turn your creative vision into a fundable project.
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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Rewriting the Rules of Influence
Sara Hossain in conversation with Shazna Nessa
What does it take to reclaim your place at the table when the world tries to write you out? And how do you challenge the status quo to reshape the structures that decide who gets to speak, lead, and belong? Sara Hossain, barrister at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and renowned advocate for women’s rights, joins Shazna Nessa, a leading force in global storytelling and digital innovation, for a conversation about navigating and transforming systems of influence. Drawing on journeys that span courtrooms, newsrooms, and communities in flux, they share practical lessons on building agency, confronting barriers, and rewriting the rules of power, one story at a time.
Powered by UN Women and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Fighting Back Against Platform Power
Sofia Schurig, Alexandre Amirejibi, Branko Brkic, moderated by Marina Walker
Across the Global South, journalists and technologists are confronting the harms unleashed by Big Tech, from AI-driven disinformation and digital exploitation to the failures of platforms to protect the most vulnerable.
Powered by Luminate
And What We Can All Learn From Them
Peter McIndoe, Adam Faze and Ryan Broderick in conversation with Rachel Corp
In a world where facts compete with feelings and TikTok trends outpace the nightly news, what are we missing? Rachel Corp sits down with Adam Faze, who left Hollywood to build a viral TikTok studio, Peter McIndoe, the brain behind the satirical conspiracy theory Birds Aren’t Real, and Ryan Broderick, the journalist who went rogue with his own hit newsletter, to unpack what’s broken about how we tell factual stories today. What blind spots and old habits are holding legacy media back? Is there still a place for facts, or do we need a whole new playbook? This is a provocative conversation about reaching new audiences, breaking the rules, and finding truth in the post-truth era.
Powered by Setanta Sports
Building Digital Products That Work—and Generate Revenue
Rishad Patel
Join Splice co-founder Rishad Patel for a fast-paced, interactive session on designing digital media products that people truly need. Learn to identify your users, test ideas, and make smarter product and revenue decisions. Stick around for one-on-one clinics for personalized, actionable advice on structuring your media startup.
Fabiola Torres, Sushmita moderated by Federico Acosta Rainis
An AI model is only as good as the data behind it, and those who are already marginalised are the ones who are most affected. In this session, the Pulitzer Center’s AI Accountability Network will discuss the importance of data behind the digitisation of land ownership in India and the creation of a model for welfare in Peru. Journalists Fabiola Torres and Sushmita will share how they investigated the data behind these systems and present templates to empower reporters to avoid common mistakes as they investigate technologies that affect their communities.
Powered by The Pulitzer Center
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What Cities Can Teach Us About Leadership, Trust, and Change
Alejandro Aravena in conversation with Susan Morrison
Legendary Chilean architect, Alejandro Aravena, shows how building cities offers lessons in empathy, creativity, and openness that can inspire new ways to lead, rebuild trust, and address inequality. Together with The New Yorker’s Susan Morrison, Aravena will draw on his work with participatory design, incremental housing, and post-disaster reconstruction to explore how architecture’s approach to embracing uncertainty, putting people first, and designing for the long term can spark fresh thinking in journalism, politics, and social change. What can other fields learn from architecture’s balance of practicality and imagination and from its insistence on asking the right questions before rushing to answers?
Boy Rooms, Wardrobes, and the Limits of Masculinity
Adam Faze in conversation with Christopher Wylie
What can we learn from boys’ rooms and women’s closets about the world we live in? Producer Adam Faze, whose work explores the chaos and secrets of boyhood bedrooms, joins fashion and tech provocateur Christopher Wylie, who has studied the inner lives of wardrobes for major brands, to unpack the new realities we all inhabit. For a generation raised entirely under social media’s gaze, the boundaries of self-expression and masculinity are more tightly policed than ever. Expect a conversation about the coded, messy ways we navigate identity in a world where everything is on display.
How to Build Lasting Narratives from Digital Fragments
Emily Bell in-conversation with Peter McIndoe
What does it take to build a story that shapes culture and not just trends for a day? Peter McIndoe, creator of the viral phenomenon “Birds Aren’t Real,” reveals his Mosaic Storytelling method: turning scattered digital fragments into lasting narratives and communities. Led by Emily Bell, Director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and former Guardian editor, this masterclass offers practical strategies for building participatory movements, lessons from the frontlines of viral culture, and tools to help your story thrive online.
Turning Financial Crime into Compelling Narratives
Anya Schiffrin in-conversation with Oliver Bullough
How do you transform the shadowy world of offshore accounts, shell companies, and financial crime into stories that truly resonate? In this hands-on masterclass, Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland, shares creative techniques for making the money trails vivid, urgent, and unforgettable for any audience. Drawing on real-world investigations and participant ideas, Oliver will guide you through the art of turning complex financial reporting into compelling narrative. With expert feedback from Anya Schiffrin, you’ll learn how to craft stories that cut through the jargon and bring the hidden world of dirty money to life.
Food Security in a Changing World
Shelley Thakral and Kellie Hynes, led by Julia Watson
As global crises multiply and climate change intensifies, what happens to our most basic need: food? This conversation brings together humanitarians Shelley Thakral and Kellie Hynes and food writer Julia Watson to explore the precarious state of global food systems. From empty shelves in London to hunger emergencies in conflict zones, they'll unpack how political instability, climate disasters, and changing aid priorities are reshaping what (and whether) people eat. As international aid structures face unprecedented challenges and food sovereignty movements gain momentum, this panel asks: How do we build food systems that can withstand chaos while preserving the flavors, traditions, and connections that make food more than just sustenance?
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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What Happens When the Safety Net Vanishes?
Shelley Thakral, Arwa Damon, Seema Jilani in conversation with Michael Bociurkiw
The global aid system is in free fall: contracts canceled, funding slashed, and millions left at risk. In true ZEG fashion, frontline pediatrician Seema Jilani, war zone correspondent turned responder Arwa Damon, and humanitarian Shelley Thakral cut through the platitudes with Michael Bociurkiw for a raw, urgent conversation on what “help” looks like when the old playbook is gone. Can this crisis force a radical rethink, making way for new, locally led ways to save lives? Join us for an unfiltered look at what comes next when everything you counted on disappears.
Timothy Snyder (online) in-conversation with Masho Lomashvili
Yale historian Timothy Snyder will explore how the past shapes our present crises, from the manipulation of historical memory to the patterns that repeat across generations. The author of "Bloodlands" and "On Tyranny", Snyder, in conversation with Masho Lomashvili, will offer unflinching analysis on the mechanics of memory manipulation, why historical truth becomes a battlefield, and how societies can resist the rewriting of their own past.
Using groundbreaking OSINT techniques, this explosive investigation reveals who was behind the killings of protesters during Kenya’s 2024 cost-of-living demonstrations. Blood Parliament demonstrates the power of collaborative, digital-first journalism to expose state violence and hold power to account, even as authorities attempt to shut down the story. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with BBC Eye Investigations Executive Editor, Liz Gibbons, Anusha Kumar, who is the YouTube editor for Eye Investigations, and Pete Murimi the executive of the film.
Led by Adam Pincus
South African media maverick Branko Brkic pulls back the curtain on building independent journalism in an era of state capture and platform dominance. The Daily Maverick founder offers unfiltered insights on funding truth, fighting oligarchs, and what it really takes to build sustainable media in hostile environments.
Fixes, Hacks, and Creative Solutions for Audio Storytellers
Becky Lipscombe
Bring your podcasting woes to Becky Lipscombe, Agony Aunt and producer extraordinaire, and get practical, participatory help from the community. Whether you’re stuck in editing, overwhelmed by material, or searching for that magic storytelling ingredient, this workshop is a space to share pain, swap solutions, and find your way through the audio jungle-together.
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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FREEDOM UNDER FIRE
What Liberty Means in Times of Crisis
Joseph Stiglitz and Volodymyr Yermolenko in conversation with Natalia Antelava
ZEG’s opening evening confronts the urgent question: What does freedom look like when the world is on fire? We begin with a performance by two young Georgians, setting the tone for a night of stories and debate. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Ukrainian philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko join Natalia Antelava for a searching conversation on liberty, responsibility, and the future of free societies. Together, they unpack what it really takes to defend and expand liberty in the 21st century.
ZEG TOWNHALL
What's the Story?
Natalia Antelava, Dan Klein and YOU
Help shape the ZEG 2025 conversation. The ZEG Townhall is your space to join a collective brainstorm on the stories at the heart of this year’s festival. Join Natalia Antelava and improv maestro Dan Klein to help us spark the debate that will carry through the weekend.
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Come along for an easy 10K run through the streets of Tbilisi, following parts of city’s half marathon route. We’ll start in the city center and run down Rustaveli Avenue, through the Old Town, and past some of Tbilisi’s most charming historic neighborhoods. Leading the way is Kristina Skupien, who’s taken part in nearly 50 races around the world, while Vaska — fresh off placing 14th in his first-ever race (Wings for Life World Run, 25km) — is already training for a full marathon.
Expect good vibes, an easy pace, and great company!
Tour Guide: Kristina Skupien and Vaska Chubinidze
Meeting Point: Parliament of Georgia
Spaces are limited: Sign up here
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This tour, developed by the Soviet Past Research Laboratory (SovLab), explores Stalin’s personal metamorphosis after he embraced Bolshevism and its impact on Georgia’s fate, especially in the context of his clash with independent and democratic Georgia.
The tour begins at the former Tbilisi Theological Seminary, where Ioseb Jhugashvili (as he was then known) and many political figures of both social democratic and Bolshevik orientations studied and honed their political views. Here, we explore Stalin's early involvement in social democratic organizations and the formative conflicts that shaped his political transformation.
Next, the tour moves to the site of the infamous 1907 bank robbery, in which Stalin played a key role — an event that significantly elevated his status within the Bolshevik movement.
We then visit the Palace of Youth, formerly the parliament building of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, to discuss Stalin's stance on Georgian independence and his role in orchestrating the Soviet Russian invasion of February 1921.
The tour continues with an examination of the invasion itself, Stalin's ill-fated visit to Georgia in July 1921, and his subsequent purge of communist leaders in the newly occupied republic, concluding, not-so-ironically, at the former headquarters of the Soviet secret police.
Tour Guide: Giorgi Kandelaki
In collaboration with SovLab
Meeting Point: Art Museum of Georgia (2/4 Aleksandr Pushkin St, Tbilisi)
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
The area around the First Republic Square in Tbilisi offers visitors a unique opportunity to trace the development of various architectural styles during the last two centuries. The location is a perfect spot for observing the relationship between the natural mountainous terrain of the city and the environment built across it.
The tour includes several landmarks that showcase Tbilisi’s architectural diversity: The mosaic of Colonial Row (Art-Nouveau), “Zarya Vostoka” Publishing House (Constructivism), the Institute of Marxism-Leninism and the Miners’ Administrative Buildings (Soviet brutalist), the Telegraph Hotel (Modernist) and the Republic Restaurant (Post-modernist). Each of the buildings carries the spirit of its creator, offering insight into how multinational architects adapted to shifting political landscapes—and the compromises they made to leave their imprint on the city.
Tour Guide: Levan Kalandarishvili
Meeting Point: The First Republic Square
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
A city tour inspired by author Nino Haratischwili's "The Eighth Life (for Brilka)" offers an in-depth exploration of Georgia’s capital, showcasing the rich historical and cultural layers masterfully illustrated in the novel. Follow the path of key locations in the Jashi family saga—spanning from the early 20th century to contemporary times—and immerse yourself into Tbilisi through Nino Haratischwili's eyes, experiencing the intersection of rich history, culture and personal narratives that make the city’s heartbeat.
Tour Guide: Dani Tabukashvili
Meeting Point: 4 Liberty Square (in front of old city hall)
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
Join Georgian philosopher and activist Levan Ghambashidze on this tour of Georgia’s turbulent political transition, from totalitarianism to democracy. Tracing the modern political history of Georgia, this tour will help you understand the last hundred years of Georgian political history – and what’s at stake in the present.
Tour Guide: Levan Ghambashidze
Meeting Point: National Youth Palace
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
This year at ZEG, our partner BMW is inviting you to experience a movement of your own — not just through words and stories, but behind the wheel of the electric BMW iX.
Thoughtfully designed and brilliantly engineered, the BMW iX isn’t just a car — it’s a vision in motion. It’s a statement about where the world is going, and how we choose to move with it.
Whether you’re an urban explorer, a design enthusiast, or someone who simply believes in driving change — this experience is being offered to you.
Meeting Point: In front of the Main Stage
Duration: 5-12 mins
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
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SOS, presented by Window Project, is a powerful group exhibition featuring contemporary Georgian artists—Tato Akhalkatsishvili, Nino Alavidze, Sandro Antadze, Uta Bekaia, Andro Dadiani, Rusudan Khizanishvili, Vakhtang Kokiashvili, Dato Koridze, Tamara K.E., Mia Okruashvili, Koka Ramishvili, Oto Tsagareishvili, and Guram Tsibakhashvili—whose works reflect on Georgia’s turbulent socio-political landscape from 1989 to the present. Inspired by Koka Ramishvili’s military textile series from the early 1990s, SO[S] uses the incomplete distress signal as a metaphor for Georgia’s past isolation and unresolved crises. The exhibition showcases themes of identity, protest, state power, resilience, and memory through diverse media, including photography, video, painting, sculpture, and installation. From visual accounts of protest and authoritarianism to deeply personal expressions of queerness, loss, and cultural mythology, the artists explore the ongoing struggle for freedom, democracy, and visibility in Georgia. Each work offers a window into individual and collective experiences shaped by political upheaval, calling attention to the urgent need to resist silence, demythologize history, and safeguard civil liberties.
Tour Guide: Tamuna Gvaberidze
Meeting point: Art Space - Festival Venue
First come, first serve
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Rethinking Learning in a Disrupted World
Marie Lou Papazian and Aaron Rasmussen
What happens when you hand the keys to learning back to young people? From Yerevan to Silicon Valley, two education trailblazers debate how to build creative, self-driven learning systems in a world where the old models are falling apart. Marie Lou Papazian, the force behind Armenia’s TUMO experiment, and Aaron Rasmussen, co-founder of MasterClass, swap stories and strategies on what it takes to spark curiosity, unleash talent, and let students lead the way. What can the West learn from Armenia’s radical approach–and what’s next for the future of learning?
Powered by TBC Concept
Josh Hersh with Ghaith Abdul-Ahad
Live podcast recording with The Kicker, Columbia Journalism Review's podcast on media and journalism. Award-winning war correspondent Ghaith Abdul-Ahad joins Josh Hersh to discuss navigating both physical conflict zones and the digital battlegrounds of AI-generated disinformation.
Who Gets to Tell Philanthropy's Story?
Sam Gill, Anne Avis moderated by Christoph Plate
Philanthropy loves to talk about impact, but who shapes the story, and whose voices are left out? In an era of rising skepticism and shifting power, the future of giving may depend less on new strategies and more on who gets to define the narrative. Join this conversation as philanthropy veterans Sam Gill, Anne Avis, and Christoph Plate explore how foundations can move beyond buzzwords, bring in new storytellers, and create a more honest, inclusive story about what giving really means.
Communicating Under Pressure When Everything's on the Line
Michael Bociurkiw
Michael Bociurkiw draws on his experience as OSCE spokesperson and frontline humanitarian to teach essential crisis communication skills. Through real-world case studies and role-play, learn how to communicate under pressure, build trust in chaos, and avoid common traps: vital for journalists, NGOs, and anyone facing a crisis.
Marché Arends, Kathryn Cleary, Pablo Jímenez Arandia, Sofia Schurig
In this workshop, you will work together to evaluate the environmental, labor and regulatory impact of a fictional AI system. How would you evaluate this system? What data would you need? What barriers do you anticipate? You will learn from the reporting of three AI fellows at the Pulitzer Center to ground your ideas: Marché Arends and Kathryn Cleary on the labour behind AI training data, Pablo Jímenez Arandia on the environmental impact of data centers and Sofia Schurig on the influences on AI regulation.
Powered by The Pulitzer Center
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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A live experiment and conversation about songwriting in the age of algorithms
Nick Laparra in-conversation with JP Saxe
Can AI write a love song? In this session, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter JP Saxe explores the creative process behind emotionally resonant music and asks the question: Can artificial intelligence capture heartbreak, longing, or hope the way a human can?
How the Super-Rich Bend the Rules
Oliver Bullough, Paul Caruana Galizia, Ed Caesar moderated by Hans Gutbrod
From London to Tbilisi, today’s oligarchs don’t just hoard wealth—they rewrite the rules for everyone else. Moderated by Hans Gutbrod, investigative journalists Oliver Bullough, Paul Caruana Galizia and Ed Caesar will unpack the global playbook of the super-rich. Drawing on the exposé “Macbeth of the Caucasus,” they reveal how fortunes are hidden, power is protected, and entire countries are bent to the will of a single billionaire–most notably Bidzina Ivanishvili’s outsized influence on Georgia’s politics, media, and future. What does this mean for democracy, accountability, and the people left in the oligarchs’ wake?
How One Brand Is Rewriting Belonging for a New Generation
Masu Mtsariashvili, Anka Koiava, and Liza Kajrishvili with Julia Watson
What does it mean to truly belong when you’re young and everything feels overwhelming? In this session, Masu Mtsariashvili, Anka Koiava, and Liza Kajrishvili sit down with Julia Watson to share the story behind Reckless, a fashion brand that’s redefining community for teenagers. Moving beyond labels and scars, Reckless creates spaces where teens feel seen, heard, and safe to be themselves.
Led by Jon Lee Anderson
What happens when you put a globetrotting journalist and photographer who've covered everything from wars to revolutions in the same room and ask them to spill secrets about each other? And what if they’re friends? Find out in this lively session with Jon Lee Anderson, legendary New Yorker correspondent, and Magnum photographer Thomas Dworzak.
Can We Rebuild What We've Lost?
Sam Gill and Jake Friedman
Remember when we all watched the same news and trusted the people in charge? Two thinkers debate whether trust can be rebuilt—or if we need to reinvent the very idea of institutions.
Building Confidence and Finding Your Narrative Voice
Michelle Darby
Want to share your story at the ZEG Story Slam or just get better at telling stories, on stage or off? Michelle Darby’s interactive session covers the basics of narrative structure and performance, with essential tips for beginners and anyone looking to sharpen their storytelling skills. Learn how to find your voice, connect with audiences, and bring your story to life, whether you’re aiming for the Story Slam or simply want to build confidence in sharing your experiences.
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Lessons from the Stage for Work, Leadership, and Storytelling
Dan Klein and Michelle Darby
World-class improv maestro Dan Klein and theater actress Michelle Darby lead a transformative, high-energy workshop blending games, rapid-fire scenes, and live participation. Learn to embrace uncertainty, build creative agility, and turn the unexpected into your greatest asset—skills that top entrepreneurs, innovators, and storytellers use every day.
How Broken Trust, Survival, and Loyalty Shape Nations and Lives
Volodymyr Yermolenko, Garry Pierre-Pierre, Thornike Gordadze moderated by James Runcie
What does betrayal mean in a world marked by colonial legacies, shifting alliances, and political strongmen? Is it always a breach of trust, or sometimes a strategy for survival? Join thinkers and storytellers from Ukraine, Haiti, and Georgia as they unpack the personal and political costs of broken promises, shifting loyalties, and hard choices in turbulent times–and what these stories can teach us today.
NYC, 1975: the greatest, grittiest city on Earth is minutes away from bankruptcy when an unlikely alliance of rookies, rivals, fixers and flexers finds common ground—and a way out. Drop Dead City brings to life the chaotic days when New York teetered on the edge of fiscal collapse. Clips of the film will be followed by a Q&A with co-director Michael Rohatyn.
Lessons from the Frontlines of Change
The innovator's dilemma raises the question: will a company fall behind if they overlook disruptive technology and trends? However, the habits and values behind high quality news run in the face of disruptions led by platforms and AI search engines. The current era of information consumption is dominated by attention grabbing, polarizing content powered by innovations in video and audio software and formats. In conversation, Dessi Damianova of Bellingcat and Ryan Powell of the International Press Institute will discuss the foundations of innovation and the balance between risk taking and stability, especially for small independent media. They will analyze innovation through the prism of three critical features of media and technology: production, distribution and cooperation.
How to Build Coherent Stories About Big, Messy Subjects
Armando Iannucci, Jon Lee Anderson led by Julie Posetti
What does it take to turn a complicated, messy subject into a story people care about? In this masterclass, ZEG favorites share their tricks for breaking down complexity, finding the human thread, and crafting narratives that stick. Expect practical advice, sharp examples, and a look at how the best in the business tackle the hardest stories, and why it matters.
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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A Presentation by Platon
Platon
What do world leaders reveal when the cameras are rolling—and when they’re not? In this solo presentation, legendary portrait photographer Platon shares the stories and images that have defined his career. From presidents to revolutionaries, Platon’s lens has captured the faces of power, vulnerability, and everything in between. Experience the moments behind the portraits and see how a single image can shape how we see the world.
Powered by TBC Concept
Hope, Impossible Choices, and Untold Stories from the Frontlines
Seema Jilani in conversation with Quentin Sommerville
What does it mean to heal and bear witness in places where safety is a memory and every decision can change a life? Dr.Seema Jilani has spent years on the frontlines, tending to children and families amid war and disaster. BBC correspondent Quentin Sommerville has reported from those same frontlines, capturing the chaos, heartbreak, and resilience of people living through crises. In this intimate conversation, the spotlight is on Seema’s journey—her work, her words, and what she’s learned about hope, impossible choices, and the stories that rarely make the news. Together, they’ll explore what it means to keep going when the world is burning, and why some stories must be told no matter the cost.
A convicted felon builds an unlikely feminist movement from behind bars at an all-male prison in Soledad, California. This groundbreaking documentary follows the men in San Quentin's Success Stories program as they confront toxic masculinity and rewrite what it means to be a man. The screening will be followed by a conversation with co-producer Emma Lacey-Bordeaux and Success Stories alumnus Hugo Gonzalez.
Led by Rachel Corp
From managing Manhattan skyscrapers to revolutionizing teen education in Armenia, Marie Lou Papazian shares the unconventional path that led her to create TUMO Center for Creative Technologies. The founding CEO reveals how she translated hard-won lessons from New York construction sites into building Armenia's most innovative learning space, where teenagers drive their own education. In conversation with Rachel Corp.
Kristina Atovska, Adelin Petrișor, Tako Robakidze moderated by Christoph Plate
To outsiders, the Caucasus, Balkans, and Central Europe are often lumped together as “the East”—a patchwork of former empires, frozen conflicts, and misunderstood identities. But on the ground, the differences are as real as the similarities. In this joint conversation, journalists from North Macedonia, Romania, and Georgia swap stories about borders (visible and invisible), the ghosts of empire, and the everyday realities of covering regions that are “so close yet so far.” What does it mean to report on places that are always on someone else’s map? How do you cover the “messy middle” between Europe’s centers of power? And what can these regions learn from each other as they navigate new challenges-democratic backsliding, Russian interference, and the search for a place in the world?
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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Armando Iannucci, Christopher Wylie and Adam Pincus in conversation with Alix Dunn
Why do crucial tech concepts like “surveillance capitalism” and the “attention economy” barely register in newsrooms or public debate, while the drama of Big Tech personalities dominates the headlines? In this special ZEG x Computer Says Maybe live show, Alix Dunn sits down with satirist Armando Iannucci, data scientist and whistleblower Christopher Wylie, and producer Adam Pincus for a brainstorm on how to make complex tech stories vivid, urgent, and irresistible.
Co-hosted by Computer Say Maybe & Powered by Luminate
How to Break the Old Boys' Club and Open Up Decision-Making
Ane Breivik and Sara Hossain in conversation with Marisa Mazria Katz
Why do we still see so few women calling the shots in politics, business, and everywhere decisions get made? Ane Breivik and Sara Hossain talk to Marisa Mazria Katz about the invisible walls, old habits, and unwritten rules that keep women out, and spotlights the people and ideas changing the game. Expect stories, practical fixes, and a look at why opening doors for women isn’t just fair–it’s smart, and it matters for all of us, everywhere.
Powered by UN Women and Nordic Council of Ministers
Visual Storytelling, Philosophy, and the Art of Making the Invisible Visible
Davide Monteleone and Matthew Pye moderated by Nadia Beard
How do you make the invisible forces shaping our planet visible, urgent, and intellectually compelling? In this session, National Geographic Explorer and Leica Oskar Barnack Award winner Davide Monteleone and philosopher Matthew Pye combine visual storytelling and philosophical inquiry to explore not only how to see, but how to deeply understand and reimagine our future through images and ideas. Moderated by Nadia Beard, they invite the audience to look beyond headlines and data, asking what it takes to truly witness the climate crisis, and what new ways of seeing might inspire action.
Join acclaimed author and historian Rachel Cockerell for an immersive workshop on transforming dusty archives into compelling historical narratives. Drawing from her own research experience for her best-selling book Melting Point, Rachel will demonstrate how to weave together primary sources—from newspaper clippings to personal letters—to create vivid, authentic stories that bring the past to life. Through real examples from her work, including century-old newspaper articles and podcast clips, Rachel will reveal how seemingly small discoveries can become the foundation for rich historical storytelling. Moderated by Ed Caesar.
Telling Documentary Stories When You’re Both Subject and Storyteller
Journalist and sound artist Phoebe McIndoe leads an intensive session on navigating the challenges of telling stories you’re personally connected to. Drawing on her own reporting and lived experience, Phoebe guides participants through practical exercises, alternative interviewing approaches, and group discussion to develop tools for balancing personal connection with journalistic integrity and crafting authentic, powerful narratives.
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How Technology Is Changing What It Means to Be Human
Hosted by Coda Story’s Isobel Cockerell with Christopher Wylie
CAPTURED Live is an immersive multimedia performance that explores humanity's complex relationship with artificial intelligence. Through investigative storytelling, visual elements, and compelling testimony, the show takes audiences on a global journey from Silicon Valley boardrooms to the hidden human costs of our digital transformation. Prepare to question who holds the power, who pays the price, and what it means to be human as AI reshapes our lives. This is journalism you can feel: raw, urgent, and unforgettable.
Making, Breaking, and Reinventing in the Age of AI
Aaron Rasmussen, Cesar Kuriyama in conversation with Ryan Broderick
What happens when machines become collaborators, not just tools? In this wide-open conversation, Aaron Rasmussen and Cesar Kuriyama, the founders of MasterClass and 1 Second Everyday, join journalist Ryan Broderick to explore how creativity is being remixed, challenged, and supercharged by artificial intelligence. Expect sharp stories from the frontlines of invention, lessons in what’s lost and gained when code joins the creative process, and practical ideas for anyone looking to make something new in a world where the rules are being rewritten in real time.
Katie Danelia, Sandro Tskhadadze and Nata Koridze in conversation with Jodie Ginsberg
When repression comes home, it doesn’t just silence journalists-it reverberates through families, neighborhoods, and entire societies. Jodie Ginsberg sits down with Katie Danelia, Sandro Tskhadadze and Nata Koridze, whose husbands or brothers are imprisoned in Georgia, as they share the everyday realities of waiting, hoping, and refusing to let these stories disappear. How do you keep faith and fight for justice when the unthinkable becomes your new reality? What does it mean to become the voice for those silenced? These are the stories that remind us: no country is immune, and no family untouched, when freedom is on the line.
Led by Nabeelah Shabbir
Danish-Turkish politician and activist Özlem Cekic shares her journey from facing death threats to transforming enemies into allies through radical dialogue. The former MP and "coffee diplomacy" pioneer offers candid reflections on navigating systemic barriers as a Muslim woman in European politics, the personal cost of standing up to extremism, and her groundbreaking approach to building bridges across seemingly insurmountable divides. In conversation with Nabeelah Shabbir.
Powered by UN Women and Nordic Council of Ministers
Alejandro Aravena in conversation with Lucinda Bredin
Alejandro Aravena, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect, and Lucinda Bredin explore the relationship between physical spaces and cultural memory. How do we build environments that honor the past while creating new possibilities? And what happens when buildings, books, and public spaces become battlegrounds for competing visions of history and identity?
Powered by Tbilisi Architecture Biennial
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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Who Shapes the Story When Trust Breaks Down?
Joseph Stiglitz in conversation with Christopher Wylie
What happens to economies when trust in institutions collapses? Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and data provocateur Christopher Wylie dig into how economic stories are spun, twisted, and weaponized in the post-truth era. From the collapse of public confidence to the rise of viral narratives, they’ll unpack who benefits, who loses, and what’s really at stake when the old rules no longer apply. This is economics for the age of suspicion: where every story has a hidden cost.
Led by Nikusha Bakradze
In a world of endless noise, real and honest talking is rare — and more valuable than ever. This interactive session invites participants to reflect on the simple act of talking and listening as a way to build connection, understanding, and meaning.Through audience prompts and open dialogue, we’ll explore why truthful everyday talking still shapes how we see ourselves and each other.
Powered by Cellfie Mobile
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Piano, Power, and the New Georgia
Giorgi Gigashvili in conversation with Joe Sabia
In a country at a crossroads, classical music is no longer just about tradition or virtuosity–it’s a language of resilience, identity, and defiance. Joe Sabia, celebrated for reinventing how we experience music and storytelling, and a true classical music obsessive, sits down with Giorgi Gigashvili, the internationally acclaimed Georgian pianist whose performances have resonated as much in the streets as in the concert hall. Giorgi has become a symbol of his generation: winning top prizes on the world stage while standing shoulder to shoulder with protesters at home, refusing to separate art from the fight for Georgia’s future. Together, they explore how music can become both a refuge and a rallying cry when the stakes for a nation–and a generation–are at their highest.
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If you are ready to hit the trails, join for an 8–10K run under the famous Mtatsminda TV tower, with stunning views over Tbilisi and around 500m of elevation gain. You’ll be running with Kristina Skupien and Kitty, Georgian ultra-runner, currently training for the legendary 150km UTMB Ultra. All paces welcome!
Tour Guide: Kitty Jivova and Kristina Skupien
Meeting Point: Hotel Adamo
Spaces are limited: Sign up here
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Once an industrial hub, Georgia—and particularly its capital, Tbilisi—still carries visible remnants of that era. This tour will showcase former industrial buildings—bread and textile factories, a film atelier, a hospital—which have now been reinvented into modern cultural hubs and have become integral parts of contemporary urban life. How has this reinvention reshaped Tbilisi’s neighborhoods? What benefits and drawbacks come with repurposing industrial architecture? Join us to find out.
Tour Guide: Levan Kalandarishvili
Meeting Point: Fabrika
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
This tour, developed by the Soviet Past Research Laboratory (SovLab), explores Stalin’s personal metamorphosis after he embraced Bolshevism and its impact on Georgia’s fate, especially in the context of his clash with independent and democratic Georgia.
The tour begins at the former Tbilisi Theological Seminary, where Ioseb Jhugashvili (as he was then known) and many political figures of both social democratic and Bolshevik orientations studied and honed their political views. Here, we explore Stalin's early involvement in social democratic organizations and the formative conflicts that shaped his political transformation.
Next, the tour moves to the site of the infamous 1907 bank robbery, in which Stalin played a key role — an event that significantly elevated his status within the Bolshevik movement.
We then visit the Palace of Youth, formerly the parliament building of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, to discuss Stalin's stance on Georgian independence and his role in orchestrating the Soviet Russian invasion of February 1921.
The tour continues with an examination of the invasion itself, Stalin's ill-fated visit to Georgia in July 1921, and his subsequent purge of communist leaders in the newly occupied republic, concluding, not-so-ironically, at the former headquarters of the Soviet secret police.
Tour Guide: Giorgi Kandelaki
In collaboration with SovLab
Meeting Point: Art Museum of Georgia (2/4 Aleksandr Pushkin St, Tbilisi)
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
A city tour inspired by author Nino Haratischwili's "The Eighth Life (for Brilka)" offers an in-depth exploration of Georgia’s capital, showcasing the rich historical and cultural layers masterfully illustrated in the novel. Follow the path of key locations in the Jashi family saga—spanning from the early 20th century to contemporary times—and immerse yourself into Tbilisi through Nino Haratischwili's eyes, experiencing the intersection of rich history, culture and personal narratives that make the city’s heartbeat.
Tour Guide: Dani Tabukashvili
Meeting Point: 4 Liberty Square (in front of old city hall)
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
Join Georgian philosopher and activist Levan Ghambashidze on this tour of Georgia’s turbulent political transition, from totalitarianism to democracy. Tracing the modern political history of Georgia, this tour will help you understand the last hundred years of Georgian political history – and what’s at stake in the present.
Tour Guide: Levan Ghambashidze
Meeting Point: National Youth Palace
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
This year at ZEG, our partner BMW is inviting you to experience a movement of your own — not just through words and stories, but behind the wheel of the electric BMW iX.
Thoughtfully designed and brilliantly engineered, the BMW iX isn’t just a car — it’s a vision in motion. It’s a statement about where the world is going, and how we choose to move with it.
Whether you’re an urban explorer, a design enthusiast, or someone who simply believes in driving change — this experience is being offered to you.
Meeting Point: In front of the Main Stage
Duration: 5-12 mins
Spaces are limited. Sign up here
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SOS, presented by Window Project, is a powerful group exhibition featuring contemporary Georgian artists—Tato Akhalkatsishvili, Nino Alavidze, Sandro Antadze, Uta Bekaia, Andro Dadiani, Rusudan Khizanishvili, Vakhtang Kokiashvili, Dato Koridze, Tamara K.E., Mia Okruashvili, Koka Ramishvili, Oto Tsagareishvili, and Guram Tsibakhashvili—whose works reflect on Georgia’s turbulent socio-political landscape from 1989 to the present. Inspired by Koka Ramishvili’s military textile series from the early 1990s, SO[S] uses the incomplete distress signal as a metaphor for Georgia’s past isolation and unresolved crises. The exhibition showcases themes of identity, protest, state power, resilience, and memory through diverse media, including photography, video, painting, sculpture, and installation. From visual accounts of protest and authoritarianism to deeply personal expressions of queerness, loss, and cultural mythology, the artists explore the ongoing struggle for freedom, democracy, and visibility in Georgia. Each work offers a window into individual and collective experiences shaped by political upheaval, calling attention to the urgent need to resist silence, demythologize history, and safeguard civil liberties.
Tour Guide: Tamuna Gvaberidze
Meeting point: Art Space - Festival Venue
First come, first serve
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Matthew Pye in-conversation with Dr. Erzsébet Barát
How is rising global resistance to women’s rights affecting gender equality? Why does this backlash intersect with broader democratic backsliding? In recent years, critical advances in areas such as reproductive rights, political participation, and the prevention of gender-based violence have come under threat from conservative movements. This conversation explores why this has happened—and what we can do to fight it.
Powered by UN Women and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
How to Take Photographs No One Can Ignore
Rena Effendi in-conversation with Platon
What makes an image unforgettable? In this interactive masterclass, Platon, one of the world’s most celebrated portrait photographers, shares his approach to capturing truth, character, and power in a single frame. Bring your questions and your curiosity: with stories from his legendary career, practical tips, and live feedback, Platon and Rena Effendi invite you to see the world through a new lens and leave with tools to make your own photographs impossible to ignore.
From Reporting the News to Rewriting Futures
Arwa Damon in conversation with Anna Fifield
What happens when witnessing tragedy is no longer enough? After years reporting from war zones for CNN, Arwa Damon founded INARA: a nonprofit that steps in where others can’t, providing life-altering medical and mental health care to children caught in conflict and disaster. From Beirut to Ukraine, INARA fills the gaps for the world’s most vulnerable, offering hope where the system fails. In this session with Anna Fifield, Arwa shares the journey from frontline reporting to building an organization that changes lives–and what it means to turn bearing witness into bold action.
Lessons from The Continent's Groundbreaking Journey
Simon Allison
How do you build a vibrant, trusted news publication using only the world’s most popular messaging app? Simon Allison, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Continent, Africa’s most widely distributed WhatsApp newspaper, shares the inside story of launching, growing, and sustaining a digital magazine in a challenging media landscape. Learn practical steps for content creation, distribution, audience engagement, and fighting disinformation, plus the unique opportunities and obstacles of publishing on WhatsApp. Leave with inspiration and a roadmap for your own innovative media project.
Nikusha Bakradze, Tako Robakidze, Uta Bekaia in conversation with Jake Friedman
Georgia’s recent protests didn’t have leaders or slogans but they had the country’s entire creative class: artists, poets, actors, musicians, filmmakers, meme-makers, and bus drivers who remix protest with humor, design, and music. Their resistance is creative, decentralized, and defiantly modern. In this conversation, Jake Friedman sits down with some of Georgia’s most original minds to ask: What does it mean to fight for a future you’ve never seen, and refuse to go back to a past not everyone remembers? How does creativity become a tool for protest, identity, and hope? And what can the world learn from a generation that’s changing the rules of civic life—one meme, song, or story at a time?
Personalized Feedback for Your Story-in-Progress
Michelle Darby
Ready to take your story to the next level or want expert guidance before stepping up to the ZEG Story Slam mic? Bring your work-in-progress or a new idea for personalized feedback from Michelle Darby. This hands-on clinic is designed to help you shape, polish, and perform your story with confidence. Whether you’re refining a pitch, sharing feedback in story form, or just want to experiment, this is your chance for one-on-one support ahead of the Slam or for any storytelling goal.
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When the Fight for Press Freedom Becomes a Matter of Life and Death
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC and Irma Dimitradze, moderated by Jodie Ginsberg
What happens when a newsroom becomes a battleground and a hunger strike becomes the last line of defense? This urgent session opens with the story of Mzia Amaglobeli, the pioneering editor whose arrest and protest have electrified Georgia’s fight for press freedom. Jodie Ginsberg is joined by leading human rights barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who brings a global legal perspective on defending journalists under threat, and Irma Dimitradze of Batumelebi, whose frontline experience grounds the conversation in the Georgian reality. Together, they unpack the risks, resistance, and raw stakes for those who refuse to stay silent—and explore the international legal and human dimensions of holding the line against repression.
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad in conversation with Anna Fifield
Few journalists have chronicled the modern Middle East with the depth and humanity of Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. From Baghdad to Aleppo, the award-winning Iraqi reporter and author has spent two decades capturing the realities of war, survival, and everyday life amid chaos. In this session, Washington Post Asia Editor Anna Fifield sits down with Ghaith to explore his journey from architect to frontline correspondent, the role of art in his reporting, and the moments that stay with him long after the headlines fade.
Rusudan Gotsiridze in conversation with Isobel Cockerell
Do you want to live forever? Never have to work again? Be freed from suffering? As Artificial Intelligence gets more powerful, tech evangelists in Silicon Valley are making ever more spiritual claims about our future. They preach Artificial Intelligence as a new kind of all-knowing digital God. So what happens when tech leaders start to act like prophets? Coda’s Isobel Cockerell and Bishop Rusudan Gotsiridze talk about work, faith and paradise in the age of AI.
What Breaks Us, What Binds Us, and How We Survive
Seema Jilani, Volodymyr Yermolenko in conversation with Ed Caesar
What does it take to keep going when the odds are impossible and the world is on fire? In this cross-disciplinary conversation, acclaimed journalist and author Ed Caesar guides pediatrician and frontline humanitarian Seema Jilani and Ukrainian philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko through stories of survival, resilience, and meaning from war, medicine, and philosophy. Together, they explore the physical, moral, and psychological dimensions of endurance–what breaks us, what binds us, and how we find hope and purpose in the hardest times.
George Butler in conversation with Nataliya Gumenyuk
How can illustration capture what words cannot? War artist George Butler and journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk on hidden histories discuss the ethics, emotion, and impact of documenting conflict through images and narrative.
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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Transforming trauma into creative force
Andrés Juan Guerrero Rubiano, Juan Pablo Fonseca, Giovanny García, aka “Gioh", and Keiry Movilla moderated by Hugh Macleod.
Colombia’s MOCAO collective transforms trauma into creative force. Through a powerful blend of rap, dance, and testimony, four young activists who survived police violence take the stage to reclaim their stories and demand justice. After a short film and live performance, join us for a conversation on protest, recovery, and the power of art to challenge impunity. The session spotlights the realities of state violence, the urgency of solidarity across borders, and the practical tools that help survivors and storytellers fight back.
Powered by: IRCT - International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
Can Algorithms Heal Our Social Media?
Alexandre Amirejibi, Alix Dunn moderated by Marina Walker
Social media algorithms are built to divide us, optimizing for outrage and polarization. But what if we could design systems that bring people together instead? Machine-learning researcher Alexandre Amirejibi and tech ethicist Alix Dunn join Marina Walker to explore the future of “bridging systems”: tools that use collective intelligence and thoughtful design to turn online chaos into connection. Expect sharp ideas, tough questions, and a look at how public pressure and tech innovation could help us reclaim the digital commons.
Set during a contentious parliamentary election, Call 112 follows a university student who gets pulled into a political disinformation campaign on TikTok, exposing how digital manipulation undermines trust, drives conflicts in communities and threatens social cohesion. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Usama Mukwaya and the lead on the LOVE FACTS campaign Abaas Mpindi in conversation with Anna Reismann.
Collaborative Storytelling for Creators and Journalists
Emily Goligoski
Emily Goligoski, former audience research lead at The Atlantic, guides participants through practical strategies for working with audiences to expand creative projects and generate revenue. Explore successful “memberful” routines, brainstorm ways to involve your audience in works-in-progress, and learn how to invite substantive contributions that move your storytelling further, faster.
What does it mean to resist in 2025?
Giorgi Kandelaki, Maksym Eristavi, Nino Egadze moderated by Mary Walter Brown.
In an era of rising authoritarianism, war, and information warfare, resistance takes many forms, from mass street protests in Georgia and frontline journalism in Ukraine, to the daily choices of American newsrooms under pressure. In this session, American journalist and moderator Mary Walter Brown asks for real-world advice: How do you keep going when the odds are against you? What tactics work-and which ones don’t? What does resistance look like when the cameras are off and the threats are personal?
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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Art, Activism, and Bearing Witness in an Age of Upheaval
Khalid Abdalla in conversation with Ghaith Abdul-Ahad
What does it mean to turn lived experience into art—and art into action—when the world is on fire? Khalid Abdalla, acclaimed actor (The Crown, The Kite Runner, United 93) and activist, joins legendary war reporter and author Ghaith Abdul-Ahad for a conversation that moves from frontlines to film sets, from Tahrir Square to Baghdad, as they explore what it takes to hold onto hope and humanity when the stakes are highest.
Phil Chetwynd in-conversation with Nicola Careem
As authoritarian regimes tighten their grip globally, and RFE/RL faces an existential threat from the very democracy that created it, Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director at AFP, sits down with Nicola Careem, head of News, RFE/RL, to examine different models of journalistic independence under fire. For decades, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been the alternative voice in spaces where free press was silenced, building credibility where local media could not operate. Now, as Trump dismantles post-Cold War media infrastructure, we ask what is the cost of silencing these voices in regions where alternatives are scarce? How can different journalism models adapt to survive in an era where truth itself is under assault? And has state-backed journalism outlived its purpose?
Family, Memory, and the Search for Belonging
Rachel Cockerell in conversation with Matt Janney
What does it mean to preserve hidden histories in a world obsessed with the present? Author Rachel Cockerell and journalist Matt Janney explore memory, identity, and the stories we've almost lost.
Telling Someone Else’s Story
Master profiler Susan Morrison reveals the secrets to capturing a person’s essence in writing. How do we, as writers, excavate the layers of a person without exploiting them? How do we balance the hunger for a compelling story with respect for the messy, complicated humanity of our subjects? In this workshop, Susan will guide participants through the shadowy territories of profile writing, where journalism meets psychology, where craft intersects with ethics, and where the simple act of asking the right question at the right moment can unlock entire worlds.
Building Your Personal Safety Toolkit
How do you spot a threat before it turns into harm? In this hands-on, jargon-free workshop, Julie Posetti, ICFJ’s Director of Research and a leading investigator into online violence against women, and Nabeelah Shabbir, ICFJ’s Deputy Director of Research, share what they’ve learned from co-leading major global studies on digital safety, including “The Chilling” (for UNESCO) and OSCE’s guidelines on online harms. Through real stories, and collective problem-solving, you’ll learn to recognize warning signs, support others, and build practical strategies for safer spaces, online and off.
Powered by UN Women and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Got a story to tell you can’t keep to yourself? Now’s your chance! Tell your story in 5-15 minutes (open to everyone)
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Maksym Eristavi
A live storytelling experience from Volya Hub—an experimental lab redefining how we report on complex histories. Through intimate storytelling, vivid art, and heartfelt testimonies, you’ll journey alongside those silenced by Russian colonialism, uncovering their courage, brilliance, and the force of decolonised storytelling. Produced by Maksym Eristavi, author of the award-winning “Russian Colonialism 101” guidebook, the show weaves past and present to imagine a future beyond empire. For audiences who want more than headlines, and storytelling that cuts through noise.
When Tech Coverage Becomes Celebrity Gossip
Elise Tillet-Dagousset, Ana Prieto, and Claudia Milne
What happens when coverage of tech giants turns into a soap opera starring Musk and Zuckerberg, while the real stories slip through the cracks? Drawing on new research from the Norman Lear Center, Elise Tillet-Dagousset kicks off with surprising findings: audiences crave stories about whistleblowers and systemic harms, but the headlines are dominated by tech personalities and drama. Together with Ana Prieto and Claudia Milne, she unpacks why the media can’t look away from the spectacle, what gets lost when coverage is all about the cult of personality, and how we might shift the narrative back to what really matters.
Powered by Luminate
Artefacts, Memory, and the Battle Over Africa's Past
Shola Lawal and Wynona Mutisi moderated by Simon Allison
From Cameroon to Germany, Nigeria to Britain, and from the diamond mines of colonial South Africa to the crowns of British monarchs: these are the journeys of some of Africa’s most significant artefacts. In its debut edition, The Continent profiled eight historical artefacts from across Africa, creating a vivid archive of colonial theft. Now, their stories–often erased and silenced–come to life with the project’s curator, Shola Lawal, and art director, Wynona Mutisi. Moderated by The Continent co-founder, Simon Allison, they explore the power of reclaiming stolen history, the ongoing fight for restitution, and what it means to tell these stories on African terms.
In collaboration with the Continent
What happens when two friends and seasoned journalists are given a special assignment by ZEG: to go off the record and discover something about each other they’ve never revealed? Anna Fifield and Josh Hersh turn their reporting instincts on one another, digging for untold stories, hidden quirks, and surprises that even friends might miss. It’s a live experiment in curiosity, honesty, and the art of asking the right questions.
Nivine Sandouka, Jo Even Caspi in-conversation with Arwa Damon
How to build peace when still in the grip of war? In the midst of active conflict, when division seems insurmountable, Palestinian peace advocate Nivine Sandouka and Israeli peace activist Jo Even Caspi join veteran war correspondent Arwa Damon to explore the complex realities of pursuing reconciliation during wartime. Drawing from their direct experiences on opposing sides of one of the world's most intractable conflicts, they'll share how they navigate criticism from their own communities, maintain hope when violence escalates, and build trust across seemingly impossible divides.
Defending Journalism When Law Turns Hostile
Caoilfhionn GallagherKC in conversation with Julie Posetti
The courtroom is now a battleground for press freedom. Around the world, journalists are being dragged into costly lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, and cross-border legal threats designed to silence and intimidate. In this conversation, leading human rights barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who has defended journalists like Maria Ressa and the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia, joins Julie Posetti to unpack how the law is being weaponized against truth-tellers. From SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) to new forms of judicial harassment, they’ll expose the global patterns of legal intimidation and share frontline strategies for reclaiming the law as a shield, not a weapon, for independent journalism.
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CODA LIVE
An Immersive live storytelling show like you’ve never seen before
Masho Lomashvili, Ryan Broderick and Seema Jilani hosted by Isobel Cockerell
For ZEG’s closing evening, Coda Live explodes onto the stage with an unforgettable hour of live storytelling. Lights, music, and stories collide to bring you on a white-knuckle ride from the occupied territories of Georgia, to the riotous cinemas of 1950s Karachi, into Elvis’s Graceland and down the surreal rabbit hole of Trump’s conspiracy world. Featuring Masho Lomashvili Georgia’s memory wars, Ryan Broderick on his Trump-loving father, and Seema Jilani on her wild, strange connection to Elvis Presley. Coda Live is a genre-bending, life-changing show that will leave you breathless.
ZEG STORY SLAM
Tales of Failure, Faux Pas, and Folly
Hosted by Jake Friedman and Natalia Antelava
THIS IS YOUR STAGE: three minutes and the freedom to share a true tale of failure, a story you wish someone would tell, or the feedback you want ZEG to hear, so long as it’s in story form. Whether you’re confessing a glorious mistake or pitching a story that matters. It’s an experiment, a celebration, and a chance to make ZEG truly yours. Bring your story: raw, funny, heartfelt, or bold, and help us write the next chapter together.
IMAGINARY WORLDS, REAL IMPACT
Kordz and the New Georgian Sound
Jake Friedman in-conversation with Alexandre Kordzaia (Kordz)
How do memory and imagination shape the music we make and the stories we tell about ourselves? Composer and producer Kordz is reinventing Georgia's sound by blending electronic innovation with classical roots, drawing inspiration from childhood recordings and imaginary worlds. Joined by Jake Friedman, Kordz shares selections from his acclaimed "Brunteti" project and explore show personal history, identity, and creative risk can turn private memories into something universal.
