FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, OCT. 24 - 25

ALL EVENTS WILL BE HELD ON THE UNT CAMPUS IN DENTON, TEXAS

Mayborn Conference registrants may check in at the opening reception starting on Friday from 5 - 6 p.m.
RTVF & Performing Arts Building, Ground Floor
 
The opening reception is at 5 p.m., but conference events begin at 12 p.m. See below for details.


FRIDAY EVENTS


FRIDAY - WRITERS’ WORKSHOPS
Sycamore Hall, Second Floor

 
Registration required
 
12 - 12:30  p.m.
Check In
 
12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Workshop Sessions
 

FRIDAY - PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS
Willis Library, 250H

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Photography Masterclass with 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winner Stacy Kranitz
Sponsored by Hatch Visuals
Moderated by Kael Alford

FRIDAY - DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWCASE
RTVF & Performing Arts Building, Ground Floor

11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Check In & Red Carpet

12 - 2 p.m.
Feature Film Screening: The Librarians
Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Janique L. Robillard & librarian Audrey Wilson-Youngblood
Moderated by Tania Khalaf

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Documentary Shorts Block: Three short docs

  • Death by Numbers
  • Sanctuary
  • Sallie’s Ashes

Followed by Q&A with filmmakers Janique L. Robillard, John Haley, Julia Szromba & Brennan Robideaux
Moderated by Brandon Gaesser

5 - 6 p.m.
Mayborn Conference Opening Reception

6 - 8:30 p.m.
Feature Film Screening: The Stringer
Followed by Q&A with Gary Knight and Constance Hale
Moderated by Thorne Anderson

SATURDAY EVENTS

 
9 - 9:30 a.m.
Registration Check In
 
9:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Dean's Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:45 – 11 a.m.
“Going Long: When and how to draw a story out”
Gina Barton, Constance Hale, & Mike Piellucci
Moderated by Gus Bova

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
“Depth of Focus: Biography as lens”
Benjamin Moser & Anna Malaika Tubbs
Moderated by Jeff Whittington

12:30 – 2 p.m.
Lunch on site
Jade Ballroom, Room 333 

1:45 – 2 p.m.
Musical performance by Jeff Whittington
Jade Ballroom, Room 333

2 – 3:15 p.m.
“Light in Dark Places: Immigration stories”
Steve Padilla & Edgar Sandoval
Moderated by Roxanna Asgarian 

3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
“Of Nature and Narrative: Science writing that changes everything”
Wendy Johnson & Jason Roberts
Moderated by Constance Hale

5 – 6 p.m.
“From Concept to Contract: Pitching & promoting your work”
J.K. Nickell & Andrea Pitzer
Moderated by Claire St. Amant

Bruzzy’s Patio, UNT University Union 406

6 – 7 p.m.
Reception and Author Book Signing
Diamond Eagle Suite / Bruzzy’s Patio, Fourth Floor, Room 406

7 - 8:30 p.m.
Keynote Dinner and Presentation Event
Emerald Ballroom, UNT University Union 314

Keynote Speaker: Kavitha Surana of ProPublica with Stacy Kranitz 
Winners of 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
Moderated by Tracy Everbach

 

 

Did you know?

Since 2011, six authors have received Biography Fellowships from the Mayborn and Biographers International