Speakers | lightspark-media

KEYNOTES

Abigail Disney

Abigail E. Disney is an Emmy-winning director, producer, philanthropist, and President and CEO of Fork Films, which is known for making and funding high-profile, critically acclaimed documentaries that promote peacebuilding, human rights, and social justice, with an emphasis on projects with women in front of or behind the camera.

As of June 2017, Fork Films has awarded over $4 million to 90 documentaries including CAMERAPERSON, TRAPPED, 1971, THE MASK YOU LIVE IN, CITIZEN KOCH, HOT GIRLS WANTED, THE INVISIBLE WAR, and SUN COME UP. Fork Films grantees have premiered at top-tier film festivals, won major awards, and moved the needle on important social issues.

In January of 2018, Abigail also co-founded Level Forward, a new film studio venture in collaboration with Killer Content that aims to back projects driven by women and people of color.

Abigail is the recipient of numerous awards, including an honor by the International Women’s Media Foundation, The Amicus Award from the International Documentary Association (IDA), The International Advocate for Peace Award from the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, and the Morton Deutsch Award for Social Justice. She received her Bachelor's degree from Yale, her Master's degree from Stanford, and her Doctorate from Columbia.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer is a 24-year-old actress, producer, singer, songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, and talk show host. With 15 years in the entertainment business, Keke’s résumé speaks for itself. She began her career with a breakout role in the film AKEELAH AND THE BEE, and then starred as the title character in the hit cable series True Jackson, VP, for which she received four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program. She has gone on to star in over 21 feature films and award-winning television shows, including the Emmy Award-winning Grease: Live and the film THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

Keke also made Broadway history as the first African-American and youngest actress to star in Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic 1957 musical Cinderella. Keke was hand-chosen by Ryan Murphy for her series regular television role as Zayday on FOX’s Scream Queens. Her first book, I Don’t Belong to You, was released by Simon and Schuster in January 2017. Keke is currently starring in EPIX’s Berlin Station, FOX’s Star, and is a series regular on the upcoming season of MTV’s Scream. She also has lead roles in upcoming film #TWOMINUTESOFFAME (Lionsgate) and series CRACKA (Aletheia/Raging Nation).

PRESENTERS

Depth of the Field

Dr. Jeff Cole is the Director of the Center for the Digital Future and a Research Professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Dr. Cole has testified before Congress on television issues and has spoken as a keynote and panel member at more than 200 conferences on communications issues. He has worked with both the Clinton and George W. Bush White House on media and telecommunications issues, including detailed briefings on the Center’s work.

Copyright & Wrong

Doug Lichtman is a Professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he focuses his teaching and research on topics relating to law and technology. His areas of specialty include patent and copyright law, telecommunications regulation, and information strategy and economics. His work has been featured in numerous journals, including the Journal of Law & Economics, the Journal of Legal Studies, the Yale Law Journal, and the Harvard Business Review. Doug holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.S.E. from Duke University.

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

VadaWave

VadaWave is composed of husband & wife duo Quinn Allman & Megan Joy. Together they combine a lush mixture of rock origins, electronic moodiness and soulful melodies into a unique blend of indie pop.

Tyler Glenn

Tyler Glenn is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is known as the lead vocalist and keyboardist of the American rock band Neon Trees and as a solo artist.