ZAK LEVITT
As a storyteller and creator, Zak Levitt is a two-time Emmy, Peabody, NAACP Image, New York Press Club, Deadline, Signal, AVA, and Clio Award winner, who has created some of the most popular and acclaimed documentaries of the last several years.
In 2023, Levitt’s, The Set told the inside story of the biggest corruption scandal in NYPD history. The Set reached #1 on Apple's Society & Culture chart, was named by The Atlantic as one of its Top 10 Podcasts of the Year, and is currently in development for both scripted and unscripted television. In 2022, Levitt's podcast, The Sunshine Place, made in association with Team Downey, reached #1 on Apple's overall chart and won a Deadline Award for Investigative Reporting. Also in 2022, Levitt released Season 3 of his Peabody nominated series, Gangster Capitalism, which won the NY Press Club Award for Investigative Journalism, two Signal Awards for Best Documentary and Public Service & Activism, and was nominated for a Webby Award. During the season, which focused on Jerry Falwell Jr. and Liberty University, Levitt facilitated the successful lawsuit of 22 Jane Does against the university, which led directly to a $14M fine levied by the US Department of Education - the largest ever imposed for Clery Act violations. In 2021, Season 2 of Gangster Capitalism exposed the graft and dysfunction inside the NRA. It won an AVA Digital Award, was a Webby Award Honoree, and was nominated for an ASME Award. In 2020, Season 1 of Gangster Capitalism, focusing on Operation Varsity Blues and the College Admissions Scandal, was nominated for a Peabody Award. Gangster Capitalism, which broke national news during each season, in real time, reached #2 on Apple's overall chart. Also in 2020, Levitt created the series, Relative Unknown, which simultaneously pulled back the veil on being a child of the Witness Protection Program and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. It reached #4 on Apple's overall chart, and was nominated for a Deadline Award for Investigative Reporting.
In 2019, Levitt's smash hit true-crime podcast, Root of Evil, reached #1 on Apple's overall chart, and was nominated for Best True-Crime Podcast of the Year for 2019 at the iHeart Podcast Awards. Entertainment Weekly named it the fifth best true-crime podcast of all time, and Rolling Stone named it the sixth best true-crime podcast of all time.
Levitt’s documentary films are equally decorated. In 2015, Levitt won an Emmy, an NAACP Image Award, and a Clio Award for his film, Bad Boys, a two-hour entry in ESPN’s groundbreaking 30 for 30 series. Bad Boys was ranked by ESPN as its #8 film on its list of Top 30 for 30s of All Time. In 2014, Levitt’s film, The Doctor, won the Sports Emmy for Most Outstanding Documentary. In 2013, two Levitt films, The Dream Team, and The Announcement, were each nominated for Most Outstanding Documentary at the Sports Emmy Awards in the same year. In 2010, Levitt produced Once Brothers, another ESPN 30 for 30 which was part of ESPN’s Peabody-winning and Primetime Emmy nominated inaugural 30 for 30 set of films. Dime Magazine called it, “The best basketball documentary since Hoop Dreams.” Once Brothers was ranked by ESPN as its #10 film on its list of Top 30 for 30s of All Time.
In total, Levitt has been nominated for nine Emmy Awards.
As a content executive, Levitt has scaled two studios and overseen the successful launch of two audio networks which led to exponential growth and new revenue streams across digital platforms. While doing so, Levitt created and executive produced multiple creator-hosted shows which ranked #1 in the true-crime, society & culture, and history genres. Levitt also developed valuable IP, and helped creators expand into new formats including premium streaming, live touring, and books. Prior, Levitt was the creative force behind NBA Entertainment.
Through all of his work, Levitt has long stood out as a fearless and dogged storyteller, and an industry leader equally at ease working with the biggest names in entertainment as he is with unknown characters whose stories he brings to light.