Congress '23 Heads to Seattle, Washington, November 28 to December 1, 2023

The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) is pleased to announce that Congress '23 will be held in Seattle, Washington, with host sponsor National Geographic. The location was revealed live on June 19 at the Sunny Side Science Pitch event at Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle, France. The dynamic four-day event that brings together creators of science, history and natural history content with top broadcasters, OTT platforms and digital publishers, will be held from November 28 to December 1, 2023.

A must-attend event for professionals working in science and factual media, Congress explores new frontiers in specialist factual production and distribution across all media platforms, including television, VR, online gaming, streamers, series and feature-length documentaries, and short video form. The WCSFP is committed to fostering a safe and collaborative space that celebrates individuals’ uniqueness, providing a platform to forward-thinking principles, and amplifying the voices of the marginalized, all while connecting our community and effecting positive change through stimulating knowledge sessions and events. Congress '23 in Seattle will offer members the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues around the world and meet new faces from emerging territories and markets.

"We are thrilled to bring Congress to the Emerald City, a major hub for tech, start-ups, and innovation renowned for its abundant natural beauty–from the imposing active stratovolcano Mount Rainier to the lush and biodiverse Olympic National Park–not to mention its world-famous coffee scene," said Paul Lewis, WCSFP conference director. "At a time when science and history have become so politicized, it’s fitting that our international community of factual content creators gather with their colleagues working within such a polarized climate to explore how to better tell stories of progress, innovation and resilience through a lens of inclusivity, and to find new ways to engage diverse audiences and build bridges through a greater understanding of our world. We extend our deepest appreciation to Congress ’23 host sponsor National Geographic for their continued support and for being a driving force in advancing science and factual production."

National Geographic has been igniting the explorer in all of us for 135 years through ground-breaking storytelling from the best and brightest scientists, explorers, photographers, and filmmakers in the world.

"As a long-time supporter of Congress, we are thrilled to take this opportunity to engage, energize and empower our colleagues in the science, history, and factual entertainment landscape," shared Tom McDonald, executive vice president, global factual and unscripted content, National Geographic Content. "We eagerly look forward to this world-renowned gathering–a milestone event celebrating smart content–where we will explore cutting-edge programming trends, the latest industry insights, and transformative technologies reshaping the future of our industry."

Congress '23 follows a successful, sold-out event held in Glasgow, UK, this past November, which welcomed hundreds of members from around the world to Scotland with the generous support of host BBC Studios. The WCSFP brings together more than 700 content producers, broadcasters and digital platforms, as well as subject experts, and creative and technology leaders from around the world. Over 200 representatives from international broadcasters attend each year, including key decision makers from ABC News Studios, ARTE, BBC, CBC, Curiosity Stream, France Télévisions, GBH/PBS, ITV Studios, National Geographic, NHK, Red Bull Media House GmbH/ServusTV, S4C, SBS, and ZDF Studios GmbH.

Registration for Congress '23 will open in August. Early registration for the four-day event is encouraged for what is anticipated to be a sold-out event. A full list of sessions, social events, workshops, and special guests will be announced in the fall.