ZEG Storytelling Festival went on the road on August 29 at De Balie, Amsterdam’s leading cultural center.

From the European struggle against algorithmic control to the streets of Tbilisi where protesters face AI-powered surveillance cameras, this event brought together journalists, artists, technologists, activists and thinkers to explore how technology is rewriting the rules of power and what it means for the rest of us.

The event confronted the mythologies of tech innovation, mapping how European policymakers and Georgian street protesters alike navigate the global struggle against algorithmic authoritarianism, revealing a world being reimagined in real time. The evening offered aha moments, radical insights, and unexpected connections — a blueprint for reclaiming our collective agency in a world increasingly defined by invisible algorithms. There were stories, music and great conversation about the day after tomorrow: where resistance isn’t just about fighting, but about reimagining how technology can serve human dignity, and tools of control can become instruments of liberation.

Speakers: Christopher Wylie – Data Scientist and Whistleblower; Julie Posetti – Professor of Journalism at City St George’s University of London and Global Director of Research at the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ); Natalia Antelava – Journalist, CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Coda Story and Co-Founder of ZEG Storytelling Festival; Giorgi Gigashvili – Pianist; Luka Gviniashvili – Activist. Participants were invited to bring their questions and ideas: their voices were part of the conversation, helping to shape where the discussion went.

After the main program, attendees experienced ZEG’s twist on one of humanity’s oldest storytelling traditions: a Georgian feast where delicious food was served alongside stories, connection, and dissent, hosted by chef Tekuna Gachechiladze.

Brought to you by ZEG Network

Powered by award-winning journalism from Coda Story, ZEG’s original parent company, ZEG Network unites investigative reporters, artists, activists, and thinkers to explore the stories shaping our collective future. The natural evolution of ZEG Fest, Tbilisi’s renowned storytelling festival, this initiative creates spaces for urgent, cross-border conversations that challenge dominant narratives. Through deep journalism and creative collaboration, we work to amplify voices and ideas that reimagine what comes next for our world.

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