Black Hat to debut cyber war room documentary in Vegas

Black Hat and Semperis plan to stage the world premiere of a feature-length documentary, Midnight in the War Room, during Black Hat USA in Las Vegas.

The screening forms part of Black Hat USA at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre. Black Hat and Semperis said the film presents accounts from within the cybersecurity community and covers cyber conflict involving nation states, criminal groups and defenders.

Event backdrop

Black Hat launched in 1997 and has expanded from a research-focused gathering into an international event series. The organisers said it convenes security practitioners, Chief Information Security Officers, policymakers, academics and business leaders.

Semperis develops products and services focused on identity systems and crisis management. The company said the documentary was produced by Semperis Studios and filmed across North America and Europe.

On-screen voices

The film includes contributions from figures who have appeared at Black Hat events, according to the organisers. Named participants include Chris Inglis, first U.S. National Cyber Director, and Jen Easterly, former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The documentary also features Joe Tidy, Cyber Correspondent at the BBC, and John Hammond, described by the organisers as a cybersecurity educator and influencer.

Other contributors include General (Ret.) David Petraeus, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Marcus Hutchins, the security researcher linked to stopping WannaCry, and Professor Mary Aiken, a cyber psychologist. The organisers said the film also includes more than 50 experts, defenders, journalists and reformed hackers.

Film themes

Black Hat and Semperis said the documentary focuses on the emotional and psychological toll associated with cyber defence. They said the film looks at the pressure placed on CISOs who oversee security for essential infrastructure.

The organisers also said the film includes perspectives from former attackers, including individuals who served prison sentences. They described this material as an account of an adversarial mindset and a view of cyber conflict as a human struggle.

"For almost 30 years, Black Hat has been the place where the world's most respected security voices challenge assumptions and push the industry forward," said Suzy Pallett, President, Black Hat.

"Partnering with the producers of Midnight in the War Room for the world premiere of the film builds on that legacy-amplifying the stories of intelligence leaders, CISOs, journalists, victims, and reformed hackers whose work and lived experiences have shaped the conversations on our stages. Together, we're shining a light on the people whose expertise, vigilance, and refusal to back down underpin our collective resilience," said Pallett.

Semperis said it views the film as an inside account of cybersecurity work and its impact on people in frontline roles.

"This project is unlike anything our industry has seen," said Thomas LeDuc, Chief Marketing Officer at Semperis and Executive Producer of the film.

"Cybersecurity is full of powerful, cinematic stories-but, for too long, they've gone untold. Midnight in the War Room tells the story of our industry from the inside, through the voices of the CISOs and defenders living it every day, not from the outside looking in. It shows what's really at stake-the human toll, the pressure, and the responsibility-and gives the people on the front lines something they can point to and say, 'This is why I do it.' We're honoured to partner with Black Hat on the world premiere, and grateful to Suzy and her team for their dedication to the cyber community," said LeDuc.

Screenings and panels

Beyond the premiere at Black Hat USA, Semperis said it plans additional private preview screenings and expert panels with cybersecurity and professional organisations. The company listed the Cyber Future Foundation, the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, (ISC)2, and Women in CyberSecurity among the groups it expects to work with.

Black Hat and Semperis said these events will run alongside community discussions connected with the film and its themes. They positioned the documentary as part of a wider programme of engagement around cyber resilience and crisis management.

"Partnering with the producers of Midnight in the War Room for the world premiere of the film builds on that legacy-amplifying the stories of intelligence leaders, CISOs, journalists, victims, and reformed hackers whose work and lived experiences have shaped the conversations on our stages," said Pallett.