Tribeca 2025 Spotlight: Jackie Jesko on Directing Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything

Interview by Mercedes Gonzalez-Bazan

In this special Tribeca 2025 interview, Mercedes Gonzalez-Bazan (content producer & researcher for The Light Leaks) chats with award-winning filmmaker Jackie Jesko, director of Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything. The documentary, which premieres June 23 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, dives into the complex legacy of the trailblazing journalist and interviewer.

Jesko, a former TV news producer herself, shares the process behind shaping Walters’ story — one filled with archival treasure, narrative challenges, and a commitment to nuance.

How did the film come to be?
Jackie Jesko, Director: It started with a call from Imagine. When they said "Barbara Walters," I was floored. I spent years at ABC News — I knew how monumental she was. It was a rare opportunity to dive deep into a story like that.

You had incredible archival access. What was that like to work with?
Jackie Jesko, Director: That was the heart of the film. We had access to decades of ABC’s archive — outtakes, behind-the-scenes moments, raw footage of iconic interviews. I was always looking for the moments where Barbara was just being herself.


One thing I loved was hearing Barbara narrate parts of her own story. Was that always part of the plan?
Jackie Jesko, Director: I hoped for it, but I wasn’t sure it existed! She didn’t even record the audiobook for her memoir. But our archival team found several great interviews we could pull from. Once we had her voice, the edit really came to life.

There’s such a thoughtful lens on how her personal life — especially motherhood — intersected with her career.
Jackie Jesko, Director: That part was deeply personal. I’m a working mom, as are Betsy West and Sara Bernstein on the team. We didn’t want to fall into tired tropes about women “having it all,” but we also didn’t want to gloss over how hard it was. Barbara lived in a different — and harder — time.

What was your favorite interview of hers?
Jackie Jesko, Director: Her 1976 interview with Fidel Castro. They filmed for 24 hours straight. We couldn’t include much of it, but the footage is incredible. The chemistry, the tension — she was in full control. A masterclass.

You’ve worked in news and now run your own production company. Any advice for emerging women & nonbinary filmmakers?
Jackie Jesko, Director: Access is everything. If you can build trust with the people at the center of a story, you can be the one to tell it. You don’t need to wait for permission or connections. Start where you are.


What do you hope audiences take from Tell Me Everything?
Jackie Jesko, Director: That Barbara wasn’t just a face on a screen — she was a force. She didn’t break barriers for the sake of feminism, she broke them because she wanted in. And in doing that, she made space for the rest of us. That’s powerful.