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EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY

Q&As with filmmaker Ben McKenzie:
- Sat, April 25, 6:15 p.m, moderated by Alexis Goldstein — SOLD OUT!
- Sun, April 26, 6:15 p.m., moderated by Senator Christopher Van Hollen Jr. — Tickets still available!

In his directorial debut, actor and author Ben McKenzie (THE OC, GOTHAM) turns investigator, pulling back the curtain on the cryptocurrency industry and the culture of hype, misinformation and speculation that fueled its explosive rise. What began as a promise of financial freedom has evolved into a volatile ecosystem rife with fraud and reckless gambling, carrying with it devastating consequences for everyday people. Through firsthand reporting, expert interviews and a clear-eyed examination of major collapses and scandals, the film traces how crypto became one of the most aggressively marketed financial products of the modern era — and how warning signs were ignored, dismissed or deliberately obscured. As fortunes are made and lost, EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY asks a sobering question: Who benefits from the chaos, and who is left to clean up the damage? Accessible, urgent and often darkly ironic, the film is both a cautionary tale and a call for accountability — cutting through the noise to expose a system built on speculation, influence and belief rather than truth. DIR/SCR/PROD Ben McKenzie; PROD Giorgio Angelini. U.S., 2025, color, 90 min. NOT RATED

About Ben McKenzie
Ben McKenzie is the only six-time Teen Choice Award nominee to have written a New York Times bestselling book on economics, as well as direct and produce a feature film on the subject. “Easy Money” and EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY chronicle his investigation into the murky world of cryptocurrency and fraud. Ben has starred in three TV shows (GOTHAM, SOUTHLAND and THE OC), appeared in numerous films (including JUNEBUG, LINE OF DUTY, THE REPORT and MOTOR CITY) and performed on Broadway (the Tony®-nominated “Grand Horizons”). He has written and directed multiple episodes of television. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three children, all of whom are tired of him talking about crypto.

About Alexis Goldstein
Alexis Goldstein is a finance expert with over 20 years of experience in banking, technology and government. She was most recently at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where she was fired for confronting three DOGE bros. She is running for Congress in Maryland’s 6th District.

About Senator Christopher Van Hollen Jr.
Senator Chris Van Hollen was elected by Marylanders to serve in the United States Senate in 2016 and reelected in 2022. He is committed to fighting every day to ensure that our state and our country live up to their full promise of equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity. Senator Van Hollen is a staunch defender of Americans’ rights and values. He serves on the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, where he fights to deliver critical investments for Maryland communities and support Americans’ top priorities. He also serves on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, where he consistently stands up for American consumers against powerful special interests. The Senator additionally sits on the Senate Foreign Relations and Budget Committees. Senator Van Hollen believes that our government exists to serve every American — not just the ultra-wealthy — and he is determined to build a future on that principle.