The Conspiracists – London Conversations (Press Information)

A London-wide screening and discussion series exploring the rise of conspiracy thinking and the crisis of trust.

📅 21–28 April 2026
📍 Across London (multiple venues)
🎟 Tickets: Linktr.ee/TheConspiracists

Overview

A new London-wide series of screenings and public discussions will bring audiences face-to-face with one of the defining issues of our time: the rapid growth of conspiracy thinking and what it reveals about trust, power and democratic life.

The Conspiracists – London Conversations is a week-long programme of screenings and Q&As taking place across London from 21–28 April 2026, bringing the conversation into cinemas and community venues across the city.

About the Film

The Conspiracists, directed by Liz Smith, is a feature documentary exploring why conspiracy beliefs are on the rise — not as fringe phenomena, but as symptoms of deeper social and political fractures.

The film brings together voices from across the spectrum of belief and scepticism, examining how distrust takes hold, how communities become polarised, and what this means for public discourse and democratic life.

The Conversations

Each screening will be followed by a live discussion featuring director Liz Smith and writer Noelle Cook, both of whom appear in the film as they travel together across the US, engaging directly with individuals immersed in conspiracy belief systems.

Noelle Cook is also the author of The Conspiracists, a companion book to the film, which will be available at selected screenings.

Joining them across the series are invited hosts including:

Hardeep Matharu – Editor, Byline Times
Deborah Frances-White – The Guilty Feminist
Jennifer Nadel – Compassion in Politics
Liz Pendleton – Media Revolution
Pragna Patel – Project Resist
Marina Cantacuzino – The Forgiveness Project

The discussions extend the journey of the film into the room, opening up space for audiences to engage directly with the questions it raises.

Why This Series, Why Now

Rather than presenting the film as a standalone release, The Conspiracists – London Conversations is designed as a set of live public events — creating space for audiences to engage directly with the ideas raised on screen.

The programme comes at a moment when conspiracy narratives are increasingly shaping public debate — from online misinformation ecosystems to real-world political movements — raising urgent questions about how societies process information, who is trusted, and how consensus can be rebuilt.

Director’s Statement — Liz Smith

“This film isn’t about dismissing people as ‘conspiracy theorists’. It’s about understanding why these beliefs are taking hold now, what they tell us about the world we’re living in, and how we begin to have more honest, open conversations across divides.”

Event Details

The Conspiracists – London Conversations
📅 21–28 April 2026
📍 Venues across London including Bertha Dochouse, Curzon Soho, The Lexi, The Castle, Act One, The Phoenix and Forest Cinema.

🎟 Tickets: https://linktr.ee/theconspiracists