This is an unprecedented event that combines the power of investigative journalism with cinematic creativity. Spotlight Summit qIt will take place in Cartagena, Colombia from November 30 to December 3.

Event organized Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Gabo Foundation, marks the start of a long-term alliance aimed at facilitating connections between investigative journalists and the film and television industry, one of the parties said.

The main goal of this project is explore the adaptation of reports on organized crime and corruption to audiovisual formats, thus creating works that not only entertain, but also educate and inspire.

The long-term alliance between OCCRP and the Gabo Foundation aims to not only entertain, but also educate and inspire through the merging of two exciting worlds: journalism and cinema.

Rodrigo García Barcha, a director and writer who sits on the board of directors of the Gabo Foundation, noted the emotions this would have evoked in his father, Gabriel García Márquez, who considered the two disciplines the greatest passions of his life.

In an interview for Aristegui LiveGarcía Barcha assured that it is difficult to be a journalist nowadays. “It’s interesting that there are a lot of very reactionary and very right-wing sectors that they complain about journalism and at the same time generates false news,” he said.

“Yeah, it’s an amazing time,” he said.

The summit will bring together leading investigative journalists from 11 countries who will present 14 stories to renowned producers and directors such as Suzanne Grant, Graham Yost, Charles Randolph and others.

During the first call, more than 270 proposals were received from investigative journalists, of which 14 stories were selected and presented at the Summit. Over the course of three days, these reports will be scrutinized for screen adaptation by creative filmmakers who will transform the truths uncovered by journalism into films and TV series that will unravel the criminal underworld around us.

Two legal experts, Alex Papachristou and Craig Emanuel, will offer their assistance, emphasizing the ethical and legal importance of turning research into fiction. Keynote speakers include Martha Mendoza and Walter Robinson, both renowned investigative journalists who will share their experiences throughout the event.