World premiere of Midnight in the War Room to debut at Black Hat USA in Las Vegas
Midnight in the War Room will premiere at Black Hat USA 2026, offering an insider view of cyberwarfare and the human cost of digital defence.
The world premiere of Midnight in the War Room, a feature-length documentary examining modern cyber conflict from inside the cybersecurity community, will take place at Black Hat USA in Las Vegas this August. The screening marks a collaboration between Black Hat, the global cybersecurity event series, and Semperis, the identity-driven cyber resilience and crisis management company behind the film.
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The premiere is scheduled for Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center during Black Hat USA. The documentary is positioned as an insider account of cyberwarfare, focusing on the people tasked with defending critical digital infrastructure rather than offering an external or purely technical view of cyber threats.
A documentary shaped by the cybersecurity community
Founded in 1997, Black Hat has evolved from a small technical gathering into one of the most influential global platforms for cybersecurity professionals. Today, it brings together security practitioners, chief information security officers, policymakers, academics, and business leaders to address threats that increasingly affect national security, economic stability, and society at large. This shift from a niche technical concern to a board-level and societal issue forms a central theme of Midnight in the War Room.
The documentary traces the escalation of cyber conflict involving nation states, criminal organisations, and security defenders operating on the front lines. Rather than focusing solely on technology, the film examines how these conflicts unfold through human decision-making, pressure, and responsibility. Its narrative reflects the same diversity of voices that have long appeared on Black Hat stages, spanning government, industry, media, and education.
Midnight in the War Room features interviews with prominent figures in cybersecurity and national security. These include Chris Inglis, the first U.S. National Cyber Director; Jen Easterly, former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; Joe Tidy, Cyber Correspondent at the BBC; and John Hammond, a cybersecurity educator and influencer. Additional contributors include General David Petraeus, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; Marcus Hutchins, the security researcher who helped stop the WannaCry ransomware outbreak; and Professor Mary Aiken, a cyber psychologist. More than 50 global experts, defenders, journalists, and reformed hackers appear in the film, offering perspectives grounded in direct experience.
Exploring the human cost of cyber defence
A central focus of Midnight in the War Room is the emotional and psychological toll placed on those responsible for cyber defence. The film pays particular attention to CISOs charged with safeguarding essential services and critical infrastructure, roles that carry intense pressure and constant accountability. Through personal testimony, the documentary highlights themes of burnout, moral responsibility, and resilience in an environment defined by persistent threat.
The film also includes rare insight from former attackers, some of whom served prison sentences for cyber crimes. Their reflections provide an unfiltered look into adversarial thinking, shedding light on motivations, methods, and the evolving dynamics between attackers and defenders. This dual perspective presents cyber conflict as a deeply human struggle rather than an abstract technical battle.
“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 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.”
Thomas LeDuc, Chief Marketing Officer at Semperis and Executive Producer of the film, said the project aims to tell the industry’s story from the inside. “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.”
From Las Vegas to the wider cyber community
Midnight in the War Room is produced by Semperis Studios and was filmed across North America and Europe. In addition to its debut at Black Hat USA, Semperis plans to collaborate with cybersecurity and professional organisations to host private preview screenings and expert panels. These initiatives are intended to raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and strengthen understanding of cyber resilience across the global security community.
