Supported by TBC Concept, the sixth edition of the ZEG Storytelling Festival will take place on June 19–21, bringing together storytellers, thinkers, and creators from across industries and continents.
As in previous years, ZEG will provide a platform for discussions around complex global issues while also offering inspiring experiences through panel discussions, performances, workshops, film screenings, walking tours, and other engaging formats. The festival is designed for people who believe that stories have the power to change the world. With its diverse and extensive lineup of speakers, ZEG offers inspiration for audiences from virtually every professional background.
Among the more than 100 speakers participating this year are:
Viet Thanh Nguyen – Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer and one of the leading contemporary writers exploring war and forced displacement;
David Belt – entrepreneur and innovative developer who transformed a century-old Brooklyn Navy Yard warehouse into New Lab and was named among New York’s 50 most influential figures in technology;
Karen Hao – journalist whose book Empire of AI is reshaping public understanding of who truly controls the artificial intelligence revolution;
Zelda Perkins – former assistant to Harvey Weinstein whose decade-long campaign against non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) contributed to changes in British legislation;
Kumi Naidoo – South African activist who organized school boycotts against apartheid at the age of 15 and later led both Greenpeace and Amnesty International;
Michael Barenboim – violinist and concertmaster of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra;
Leopoldo López – Venezuelan opposition leader who spent years imprisoned under the Maduro regime and went on to build a global movement advocating resistance to autocracy.
Returning to the festival this year are several acclaimed speakers from previous editions, including:
Bao Nguyen – Emmy-nominated director whose latest film, The Stringer, investigates the disputed authorship of one of the most iconic photographs from the Vietnam War;
Julie Posetti – disinformation researcher currently leading Maria Ressa’s Information Integrity Initiative;
Rachel Corp – CEO of ITN, who rose from student freelancer to leading one of the United Kingdom’s most trusted news organizations;
Jake Friedman – creative entrepreneur who founded his own record label at the age of 19 and works across music, theatre, and film;
Jon Lee Anderson – journalist for The New Yorker and one of the world’s most respected war correspondents;
Eliza Anyangwe – Emmy-winning journalist from Cameroon focusing on gender and power.
The name ZEG reflects the festival’s mission: to discover and share stories that matter not only today, but well beyond the present moment. The festival believes meaningful storytelling requires breaking down barriers between disciplines, which is why ZEG brings together writers, thinkers, filmmakers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and artists within one shared space.
A 15% discount on festival tickets is available for holders of any TBC Concept debit card.
This year, TBC has further expanded its involvement in the festival by becoming a supporter of the ZEG Volunteer Program. The partnership forms an important part of TBC’s strategy to support the next generation by creating opportunities for young people to gain international experience, develop professional skills, and actively engage in global dialogue.
