Ben McKenzie Debuts Documentary “Everyone Is Lying to You for Money” at SXSW London, Uncovering Cryptocurrency Truth

The “O.C.” actor turns to directing with a bold debut that delves into the dark side of the cryptocurrency world.

Ben McKenzie, who rose to fame with his roles in TV series like The O.C. and Gotham, will make his directorial debut at SXSW London in June with the documentary “Everyone Is Lying to You for Money,” Deadline reports.

The film chronicles McKenzie’s journey as he digs deep into the controversial cryptocurrency industry, interviewing key figures in the space. Highlights include a trip to El Salvador – the first country in the world to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender – to learn about President Nayib Bukele’s cryptocurrency policies.

“When I first started warning about crypto scams in late 2021, I received a lot of backlash online,” McKenzie said. “Now, many of them have been caught, and millions of investors have lost their money.”

The film also features exclusive interviews with two prominent figures: Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX, and Alex Mashinsky, co-founder of Celsius. Both were filmed before their crypto empires collapsed in 2022, marking the biggest scandals in crypto history.

A Hollywood actor, McKenzie transformed into a financial critic after becoming interested in crypto during the pandemic. He has become a contrarian voice, even testifying before the US Senate Banking Committee about the FTX collapse.

In 2023, McKenzie and journalist Ben Silverman released Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism and the Golden Age of Fraud, which exposes the truth behind the glamour of the crypto world – a theme that will be further expanded upon in the upcoming film.

“The question I keep asking is: Why do false narratives about crypto continue to spread?” McKenzie said. “I can’t wait for audiences to see this film – a dark comedy that gives the crypto industry and its manipulators the only respect they deserve: none.”