The 2011 edition of the Realscreen Summit is fast approaching. From January 31 to February 3, the who’s-who of the non-fiction content industry will be convening upon Washington, DC to discuss trends, hot topics and of course, do business.

The main event kicks off on Tuesday, February 1 with an inspiring keynote address from Mark Burnett who will discuss the importance of creativity, casting and storytelling.

On Tuesday, the Realscreen Summit offers you the chance to be the moderator and inquisitor with a special Big Picture Town Hall, featuring two top-level executives steering the trajectory of cable TV today. In this special interactive session, Nancy Dubuc, president and GM of History and Lifetime Networks, AETN and Peter Liguori, chief operating officer of Discovery Communications will take your questions and weigh in on the matters shaping the present and future of cable. Get answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. And it’s simple – questions can be sent now, in advance of the panel, and on site to the panel in real-time via twitter at #realscreen11 or via email to question@realscreen.com. The ball’s in your court! Be sure to take part in a lively discussion that will bring the Big Picture for cable into focus.

Content and Consolidation (Feb. 1, 2:30PM) takes a look at the implications the global trend of consolidation has for producers across the board. Moderated by WME’s Lance Klein, this panel features Michael Branton, EVP creative affairs, GRB Entertainment; Stephen Lambert, chief executive, Studio Lambert Ltd.; Jonathan Murray, chairman, Bunim/Murray Productions; John Saade, SVP alternative series, specials & late night programming, ABC Entertainment Group and Arthur Smith, A. Smith & Co Productions.

With audiences for science and natural history programming skewing younger, networks are experimenting with new methods of storytelling designed to bridge the gap between captivating entertainment and new factual findings. Keeping it Cool: Science and Natural History (Feb. 1, 5PM) takes a look at some of the innovative programming that’s on the air within those genres as well as what’s coming soon.

Let’s Make a Talent Deal (Feb. 2, 11AM) delves into how new celebrity deals are made and managed as the pop culture trend behind “celebreality” explodes. Panelists include Kelly Cutrone, CEO & founder, People’s Revolution and Jeff Schroeder of Big Brother 11 fame.

The closing session, Weathering the Storm (Feb. 3, 11:30AM), boasts a panel of some of the most successful producers and broadcasters in the industry who will forecast the future of the business of non-fiction entertainment from their perspectives. Moderated by Evan Shapiro, president, IFC tv & Sundance Channel and featuring panelists Robert DeBitetto, president & general manager, A&E Network & BIO Channel; David Goldberg, chairman, Endemol North America; Howard T. Owens, managing director, Reveille; Craig Piligian, president, CEO & executive producer, Pilgrim Films & Television and Steve Schiffman, president, National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, this enlightening session will provide a fitting conclusion to your 2011 Summit.

And of course, the event is bringing back popular features such as its signature 30 Minutes With sessions, and the live pitch competition, So You Think You Can Pitch?

For more details on the Realscreen Summit, visit the official website.