Woven throughout this year’s Double Exposure slate are stories about new fault lines—splits in truth, trust, and power that are transforming the landscape of investigative storytelling. Each film probes the fractures where society’s old narratives no longer hold: from the reframing of journalistic rights and governmental authority in the US premiere The Six Billion Dollar Man, to the contested battlegrounds of race, justice, history, and collective memory explored in titles like Cover-Up, Cycle, Magic & Monsters, and Teaching America.
A throughline emerges of filmmakers wrestling with the tension between institutional spin and lived reality. These works expose how stories—be they of state power, cultural trauma, or individual resistance—are constructed, controlled, and even commodified. By centering whistleblowers, survivors, journalists, and ordinary citizens, the slate urges audiences to question the myths that undergird national identity and public life.
In this pivotal moment, the DX slate of films, panels, and workshops captures the urgency—and the hope—of artists and truth-tellers working at the ever-shifting borders of technology, governance, and human rights. The festival becomes not just a showcase, but a public inquiry into where the cracks are now—and who pays the price when they widen.
Double Exposure isn’t just for experts—it’s for anyone in Washington, DC and beyond who’s drawn to powerful stories and curious about how the world really works. If you’ve ever felt the pull to look beneath the surface or connect with others who do, this is your invitation: come discover what’s hidden, what’s hopeful, and what’s possible at Double Exposure.
The eleventh Double Exposure Symposium brings together journalists and filmmakers at a time when so much is shifting beneath our feet. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by change, the sessions invite participants to get curious about what’s unfolding—whether that means finding new ways to listen and to get stories seen, unearthing harm tucked away from plain view, or shining a light on parts of the American story that risk getting swept aside.
Every discussion is sparked by real questions: Who finds the resources to keep going when old patterns don’t work? How do storytellers cut through the clutter of today’s news, build trust, and break through static to reach audiences both in and beyond the field? While the symposium focuses on those creating the work—journalists and filmmakers—their stories are meant for everyone, aiming to spark connection, awareness, and fresh perspective.
Through these offerings, Double Exposure reminds everyone—creators, viewers, subjects—that beneath shifting ground, the urge to seek answers and share understanding remains as powerful as ever.
Watch this space for Saturday workshops to be announced the week of September 15, and film selections the following week.
From its launch in 2015, Double Exposure has been recording nearly all of its symposium sessions, in the firm belief that these compelling conversations would have value for many more journalists, filmmakers, and audiences than could attend Double Exposure in person.
DX² is our tenth anniversary thanks to the vibrant community of storytellers and truth-seekers who have contributed to Double Exposure over the years. We believe that by sharing these resources, we can exponentially grow their power to foster innovation, collaboration, and excellence in visual investigative journalism and filmmaking.
It’s a town square built by the DX community, filled with a decade of rich content, including:
DX² is not just a static repository. We are committed to continually expanding this resource hub, ensuring it remains a dynamic and evolving platform for years to come.
We’re thrilled to part the curtain on Double Exposure’s tenth season, running from November 7-10, starting with the DX Symposium lineup. DX brings you timely conversations, skill-building workshops, master classes, one-on-one meetings, and–after long years of distance–plenty of opportunities to kick back with friends and colleagues.
From discussions about the use of A.I. deepfakes in filmmaking, to a masterclass on fictionalizing investigative stories, this year’s symposium lineup is packed with compelling sessions you won’t want to miss.
Here’s a look back at some of the intriguing sessions from Double Exposure 2023.
When NFTs and cryptocurrencies collapsed, they took with them $2 trillion, countless dreams, and a once-promising paradigm for funding independent filmmakers and journalists. How did that loss course through society, and who felt it most? Post-collapse, where did the hot money go, and what does the answer to that question mean for content creators? (Hint: it’s not pretty.)
Zero in on the physical, social and legal attacks faced by the investigative filmmaking team of The Holly, which tackled the story of an unholy nexus between gangs, gentrification, and law enforcement in Denver.
Discover strategies and insights for building diverse and inclusive film teams. Learn how to work through potential sources of tension to enhance creativity and storytelling, leading to more authentic and powerful narratives.
Digging deep to find the story: Join trina reynolds-tyler from the Chicago-based Invisible Institute for a workshop on mining public records to expose patterns of policing gender-based violence. trina and cai thomas will provide training in interpreting and using this valuable source material.
DX Access + Pitch, the festival’s pre-arranged one-on-one meetings with industry figures, is back this year, for both virtual and in-person attendees, included with all DX passes.
