FUTURE OF NONFICTION VIDEO '26

An annual forum convening the brightest minds of our industry for three days of real talk, real connections, and real solutions. Powered by Knight Foundation, hosted by Columbia Journalism School.

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Flip through this recap of the solutions-focused conversations and connections we began at FONV 2026. ↓

When + Where

Feb 6-8, 2026, at Columbia Journalism School: Pulitzer Hall, 2950 Broadway (enter at 116th Street), New York, 10027.

Entrance: Enter through 116th and Broadway at the security station on the right.

Pulitzer Hall: Walk straight down from the gate and make a right to enter the building.

Photo ID is necessary to enter campus. Bringing your own water bottle (to conserve cups and plastic) is also encouraged!

Friday, Feb 6

5:30 PM Check-in, drinks + light bites, community mingling
6:30 PM Doors close
7:00 PM Program begins: welcome and intention setting
7:15-9:00 PM
- Panel Conversation: Beyond Silos: The Shared Future of Documentary, Journalism and Content Creation
  - Macy Gilliam, Morning Brew; Shalini Sharma, NBC News; Nick Bruckman, People's TV; Anthony DiMieri, Melted Solids; moderated by Sky Dylan-Robbins.
- Documentary Screening + Filmmaker Q&A
  - Sam Baumel, Chris James, Arielle Knight, Meg Vatterott, moderated by Alex Clark.
- Closing comments, prep for Saturday
9:00 PM Music, beverages + snacks, more mingling
10:00 PM Wrap!

Saturday, Feb 7

9:00 AM Check-in, coffee/tea, breakfast + conversation, confirm or assign breakout sessions
10:00 AM Introductions + Intention Setting, doors close
10:30 AM Community Conversations
- Facilitated by: Nina Alvarez, Professor & Journalist; Josh Davidsburg, Professor & Filmmaker; Rebecca Davis, Filmmaker; Michael Guidry, Mississippi Today; Jika González, Professor & Producer; Kiana Jackson, Producer; Jonah Kessel, New York Times; Richard Lake, Mississippi Today; Bashirah Mack, Mississippi Today; Davi Mercan, Filmmaker; Elizabeth Potter, Producer; Veda Shastri, VC/National Geographic; Megan Liz Smith, Video Journalist; Emily Thomas, Filmmaker; Zach Toombs Evident Media; John Toner, Filmmaker.
11:15 AM Share out from Community Convos
11:30 AM Panel Conversation: When the Laws Don't Hold: Protecting Yourself, Your Stories, and Your Soul
- Victoria Cook, Frankfurt Kurnit Kein & Selz; Ed Ou, Visual Journalist; Annie Bien, Meditation Practitioner; moderated by Sky Dylan-Robbins.
12:30 PM Pause / Lunch
1:30 PM Community Conversations
- Navigating Editorial, Sponsored, and Branded Content in Video Journalism
  - Adam Banicki & Lydia Randall, Fortune
- Leaving Institutions for Creator Journalism
  - Sarah Frank, Collective Media; Jon Laurence, New Press
- New Models: Paths to Video Monetization for Independent Creatives
  - Micah Gelman, LNI Media; Liz Kelly Nelson, Project C
- Distribution Anarchy: Smashing the Traditional Doc Playbook
  - Pulkit Datta, Filmmaker; Adam Neuhaus, Neuhaus Ideas; Alexander “AV” Volberding, Filmmaker
- Resources for Finding Ethical Clarity: A Scavenger Hunt!
  - Chantal Encalada, Video Consortium and Documentary Producers Alliance; Sarah Wainio, Documentary Producers Alliance
- The Art of Collaborating with Non Video People (in Newsrooms)
  - Jonah Kessel, New York Times; Veda Shastri, National Geographic
- Truth in the Timeline: Using Archives to Combat Misinformation
  - Bob Ahern & Tori Jensen, Getty Images
- The Faculty Lounge: Teaching Journalism in Today’s Media Landscape
  - Alex Clark and Josh Davidsburg, Professors & Filmmakers
- Navigating Safety and Personal Risk in Storytelling during Censorship
  - Siddharth Kejriwal, Columbia Journalism School; Jun Stinson Yamagishi, ITVS; Rachel Mueller, Filmmaker
- The Legal Lowdown: Safeguarding Stories, Collaborating with Brands, and What Creatives Need to Know
  - Marcie Cleary, Victoria Cook, Melissa Georges, and Julie Murray, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
2:30 PM Coffee break
2:45 PM Community Conversations
- Organizing Against Media Consolidation in Nonfiction Video
  - Jax Deluca, Future Film Coalition; Vanessa Maria Graber, Free Press
- Entering/Re-entering the Industry: How the heck do I jumpstart my career?
  - Sahar Sedaghat, Aziza Shuler, Lauren Harris, Columbia Journalism School
- Tailoring Videos for YouTube & Growing Your Channel
  - Chai Dingari, More Perfect Union; Natalie Florio, Video Editor
- Partnership Playbook: Successful Video News Collaborations
  - Lisa Seville, ProPublica; Zach Toombs, Evident Media; Carissa Quiambao, ProPublica
- New Media Code of Ethics: A Collaborative Creation
  - Joe Posner, Fire-Works Films; Rob K Elder, Outrider Foundation
- Guidelines in the Age of Gen AI: A Conversation
  - Natalie Bullock Brown, Documentary Accountability Working Group; Stephanie Jenkins and AX Mina, Archival Producers Alliance
- Timeline: A Vertical Show & Tell
  - James Robinson & Stephanie Shen, The New York Times
- Campus Collaborations: Academic Institutions as Industry Partners for Doc Projects
  - Adam Dietrich & Sebastián Martínez Valdivia, Murray Center for Doc Journalism
- Lessons from those who’ve made it: The Spectrum of Creator Business Models
  - Natalia M. Pérez-Gonzalez & Francis Zierer, Creator Spotlight
- Notes from the Mamdani Campaign: Crafting Narratives that Spark Real Change
  - Anthony DiMieri & Debbie Saslaw, Melted Solids; Natasha Lennard, Professor & Political Journalist
3:45 PM Share out from Community Convos
4:10 PM Summary, prep for Sunday
4:30 PM Snacks, drinks, music, fun
6:00 PM Wrap!

Sunday, Feb 8

10:00 AM Check-in, coffee/tea, light breakfast + conversation
10:30 AM Question Pairings
11:15 AM Guided Meditation
- Dr. Mason Mason, NoirYoga BK
11:45 AM Break
12:00 PM Coffee with Creatives: Community Building for Deep Connection
- Alexander “AV” Volberding, Filmmaker
12:45 PM Hosting a Creative Life: How to Care for the People Who Make the Work Possible (Including You)
- Elizabeth Potter, Producer
1:45 PM Last minute mingling
2:00 PM Wrap!

FAQs

Q: What’s today’s schedule?
A: Use the dropdowns on this page!

Q: I don’t have a ticket! Can I still purchase one and attend FONV?
A: Unfortunately, we're extremely sold out! Subscribe to our newsletter, join as a member for a host of benefits, and you're always welcome to attend our local programming.

Q: I'm hungry! And need caffeine. Is there food + coffee?
A: You bet. Coffee, snacks, drinks and hearty food will be served throughout the weekend. Bringing your own water bottle (to conserve cups and plastic) is also encouraged!

Q: What is the "Chatham House Rule"?
A: Our session discussions will implement Chatham House Rule, which essentially means that guests are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s) may be revealed. This ensures everyone feels safe speaking candidly.

Q: Where are the restrooms?
A: Women: 1st, 3rd and 6th floors / Men: 1st, 5th and 7th floors / All-Gender: 3rd floor

Q: Where can I find the Wi-Fi login?
A: There is an open wifi network for guests. Just have to connect to the wifi network labeled "Columbia University". No password or credentials needed.

Q: Rooms? What's happening in each room?

Lobby: all attendees enter here / check-in table. 2nd Floor
Lecture Hall: panels / screenings. 3rd Floor
World Room: food, drinks, mingling. 3rd Floor
Video Production Studio: where our secret Video Predictions are being produced. 5th Floor
Breakout Rooms: throughout Pulitzer Hall — breakout sessions
- 5th floor breakout rooms: 501A, 502, 511A, 511B, 511C,
- 6th floor breakout rooms: 601A, 601B, 601C,607A, 607B, 607C
Quiet room: 502

Q: I’m lost—where is my breakout session?
A: You should have received your session assignment via email. If you can’t find it, head to check in to see where you should be.