The global cybersecurity community will see its own story brought to screen this summer, as Midnight in the War Room — a feature-length documentary chronicling the evolving front lines of cyber conflict — receives its world premiere at Black Hat USA on 5 August 2026.
Announced jointly by Black Hat and identity-driven cyber resilience company Semperis, the premiere will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the longstanding home of the industry’s most influential security event.
Founded in 1997, Black Hat has grown from a gathering of researchers into a global platform where practitioners, policymakers, and executives meet to address the world’s most urgent digital security challenges. The evolution of that conversation — from a technical niche to a board-level and societal concern — forms the narrative backbone of Midnight in the War Room.
The film features contributions from leading cybersecurity and national security figures, including Chris Inglis, the first U.S. National Cyber Director; Jen Easterly, former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); BBC Cyber Correspondent Joe Tidy; and cybersecurity educator John Hammond. Additional voices include General (Ret.) David Petraeus, former CIA Director; Marcus Hutchins, the researcher who helped stop WannaCry; and cyber psychologist Professor Mary Aiken.
“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 of Black Hat. “Partnering with the producers of Midnight in the War Room for the world premiere 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.”
Produced by Semperis Studios, the documentary delves into the human and psychological dimensions of cybersecurity — particularly the burden carried by Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) tasked with protecting essential infrastructure. It also features insight from former attackers, some of whom have served prison sentences, offering a rare look into the mindset of cyber adversaries.
“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 CISOs and defenders living it every day.”
Filmed across North America and Europe, Midnight in the War Room forms part of a broader initiative by Semperis to raise awareness around cyber resilience. The company is partnering with professional organisations including the Cyber Future Foundation (CFF), the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), (ISC)², and Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) to host preview screenings and expert panels in the months leading up to the premiere.
The trailer and further information are available at semperis.com/midnight-in-the-war-room.
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