Save the Date: 11th Annual Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival Announced

WASHINGTON – From July 22 to 30, 2023, the 11th annual Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival will be held at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. ACORN 8 in association with the Justice Integrity Project are proud to announce the theme for the event is the 60th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination and films, speakers and panel presentations may reflect this idea. Films are currently being accepted through FilmFreeway until May 31, 2023.

“Whistleblowers pay a very high price for speaking truth to power and for having integrity,” says Co-Founder and Managing Director, Michael McCray. “Publishers win Pulitzers, books are bestsellers, but whistleblowers risk their lives and livelihood with nothing in return.”

“We are excited to recognize Abraham Bolden (African American) an important JFK Secret Service Agent turned whistleblower at this year’s summit” said Andrew Kreig, Executive Director for the Justice Integrity Project.

McCray hopes the festival will continue to draw attention to whistleblowers, their powerful stories and their tremendous bravery.

Event schedules for this hybrid event will be announced within the coming months. The festival will be sponsored by Cemboo, a new platform which enables content owners to control, monetize and distribute their own digital media content. All panels and films will screen virtually through Cemboo. Event organizers are proud that the Whistleblower Summit is a pioneering use case for this exciting new distribution partner powered by Amazon.

“No more fattening frogs for snakes,” McCray says. “It’s time to take back our empowerment.”

Festival organizers are proud to present the event on Capitol Hill where attendees can rub elbows with famous whistleblowers like Frank Serpico and Jeff Wigand or meet poli0cal leaders like Senator Charles Grassley or former House Representative and Jonestown survivor, Jackie Speier (D-CA).

Whistleblower Summit schedule at a glance:

Saturday, July 22 – Opening Night / Film Festival
Sunday, July 23 – Film Festival Screenings
Monday, July 24 – Office of Whistleblower Ombuds (House Staff Event Only) Tuesday, July 25 – Film Festival Screenings
Wednesday, July 26 – Film Festival Screenings
Thursday, July 27 – National Whistleblower Day Luncheon (NWC Independent Event) Friday, July 28 – Capital Hill / In-Person Panels and Busboys & Poets (Book Signing) Saturday, July 29 -- Film Festival Screenings
Sunday, July 30 – National Press Club

"Democracies rely on Whistleblowers” said Marcel Reid, Co-Founder and Festival Director. “We are excited to partner with Cemboo and their innovative plaform with Amazon.”

Organizers are currently looking for films about whistleblowers, The First Amendment or that touch on one or several human rights issues including freedom of expression, women’s rights, discrimination and more.

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