FUTURE OF NONFICTION VIDEO SCHEDULE

Convening the brightest minds to collectively question what is and isn’t working in nonfiction video (in 2025). Powered by Knight Foundation, hosted by Columbia Journalism School. ↓

FONV Landing Page

Friday, February 7th, 2025

5:30 PM Registration, drinks + light bites, community mingling
7:00 PM Program Launch: welcome and intentions (Lecture Hall)
7:15-8:45 PM
- Conversation: From Vox to Independent: On Journalism without a Net, featuring Joss Fong, Sam Ellis, Christophe Haubersin, Phil Edwards, moderated by Sky Dylan-Robbins
- Documentary Screening, TBA
- Closing comments, prep for Saturday
8:45 - 9:45 PM Music, drinks + light bites, community mingling
10:00 PM Afterparty (optional)

Saturday, February 8th, 2025

9:00 AM Registration, room assignments, coffee and conversation
10:00 AM Introductions + Intention Setting (Doors close for the day)
10:30 AM Community Discussions (Classrooms)
- Pre-assigned rooms
11:30 AM Sharing (Lecture Hall)
12:00 PM Talk (Community-chosen topic)
12:45 PM Pause / Lunch
1:45 PM Talk: How can we maintain a balanced doc life? with Nick Bruckman
2:30 PM Coffee (Lecture Hall, World Room)
3:00 PM Idea Shares, Round 1 (Classrooms, 4 concurrent sessions)
- Ethical AI and filmmaking in practice: the robots are coming for our docs — or are they? Facilitated by Akmyrat Tuyliyev and AX Mina.
- Riding Algorithmic Waves and Social Video Trends: How do you leverage new formats for bigger reach? Facilitated by Jonah Kessel.
- How do you navigate the industry after graduation? Facilitated by Subhanjana Das, Alex Clark, Josh Davidsburg.
- How do you effectively build an online presence and brand? Facilitated by Erin McGoff.
3:45 PM Idea Shares, Round 2 (Classrooms, 4 concurrent sessions)
- How do you build sustainable/collaborative video teams within a newsroom? Facilitated by Adam Banicki, Lindsay Perna, Jake Nicol.
- How can newsrooms engage communities in the TikTok era of 8-second attention spans? Facilitated by Adriana Lacy, Krishna Sharma.
- Navigating Creative Philosophies, Ethics of Care, and Future Models: what's next in doc distribution? Facilitated by Adam Neuhaus, Rebecca Davis, Jessie Dong.
- How do you pivot post-staff role and build something new? Facilitated by Phil Edwards, Zach Toombs.
4:30 PM Sharing + Findings, grand finale and closing remarks
4:45 - 6:30pm Postmortem drinks + light bites, community hangout (Lecture Hall, World Room, optional)