Abigail Disney

Abigail Disney

  • Birthday: 1960-01-24
  • Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Also know as: Abigail E. Disney

Biography

Abigail E. Disney is an Emmy-winning director and producer, philanthropist and the CEO and president of Fork Films. An active supporter of peacebuilding, she is passionate about advancing women's roles in the public sphere. Abigail's films and series focus on social issues and spotlight extraordinary people who speak truth to power. Having grown up in a family of filmmakers, Abigail turned to documentaries when inspired to tell the story of a brave group of women who used nonviolent protests and sex strikes to bring an end to Liberia's long civil war. She and renowned filmmaker Gini Reticker made the widely acclaimed Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which is broadly credited with highlighting the achievements of Leymah Gbowee, who received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. Abigail and Gini went on to found Fork Films, which is known for making and funding high profile, critically acclaimed documentaries that are seen on PBS, Netflix, HBO and other major outlets. In addition to producing original films, Fork Films awards grants to non-fiction films that promote peacebuilding, human rights and social justice with a particular emphasis on projects with women behind or in front of 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 2009, Abigail founded Peace is Loud, a nonprofit that inspires action through media and live events that spotlight women leaders on the frontline of peacebuilding worldwide. Abigail's directorial debut, Emmy-winning The Armor of Light, co-directed by Kathleen Hughes, premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. The film follows Reverend Rob Schenck, an Evangelical minister, and Lucy McBath, the mother of a teenage shooting victim, who ask, is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life? Peace is Loud led the outreach and engagement campaign for The Armor of Light to restore a moral, ethical, and theological framework to the conversation about gun violence in America. The campaign has initiated and supported dialogue with faith leaders and communities around the country, reaching out beyond the documentary film community to target dozens of conservative evangelical influencers. In 2012, along with Pamela Hogan and Gini Reticker, Abigail created and executive produced the first-of-its-kind series for PBS- Women, War, & Peace. The five-part series looked at women in modern war as active agents for peace and positive change makers in their communities. It garnered the Overseas Press Club's Edward R. Murrow Award, a Gracie Award, and a Television Academy Honor. Season II of the series is currently in production. Abigail is the recipient of numerous awards including an honor by the International Women's Media Foundation for advancing women's issues and peace initiatives; IDA's Amicus Award, The International Advocate for Peace Award, presented by Cardozo Law School; and the Epic Award presented by The White House Project. Disney received her Bachelor's degree from Yale University, her Master's degree from Stanford University and her Doctorate from Columbia University. She is a mother of four.

Filmography

Production

The Armor of Light

2015

As Director

Return

2011

As Executive Producer

The Invisible War

2012

As Executive Producer

Hot Girls Wanted

2015

As Executive Producer

Out in the Night

2014

As Executive Producer

Sons of Perdition

2010

As Executive Producer

Cameraperson

2016

As Executive Producer

The Trials of Spring

2015

As Executive Producer

Secrets of the Tribe

2010

As Executive Producer

Lovesong

2017

As Co-Executive Producer

When God Sleeps

2017

As Executive Producer

That Way Madness Lies...

2017

As Executive Producer

The Tale

2018

As Executive Producer

Lost Bohemia

2011

As Executive Producer

Liyana

2017

As Co-Executive Producer

Afterward

2020

As Executive Producer

Roll Red Roll

2019

As Executive Producer

American Woman

2019

As Executive Producer

Same God

2018

As Executive Producer

The Assistant

2020

As Executive Producer

Shadow World

2016

As Executive Producer

Holler

2021

As Executive Producer

Land Ho!

2014

As Co-Executive Producer

Rebel Hearts

2021

As Executive Producer

Reality Winner

2021

As Co-Executive Producer

Netizens

2018

As Executive Producer

Bending the Arc

2017

As Co-Executive Producer

Cooked: Survival by Zip Code

2019

As Executive Producer

Sergio

2009

As Executive Producer

Children of Invention

2010

As Co-Executive Producer

Playground

2009

As Co-Executive Producer

Family Affair

2010

As Executive Producer

Open Heart

2013

As Co-Executive Producer

Seeds of Time

2013

As Executive Producer

From This Day Forward

2015

As Executive Producer

Disclosure

2020

As Executive Producer

Missing in Brooks County

2021

As Executive Producer

Naila and the Uprising

2017

As Executive Producer

Call Her Ganda

2018

As Executive Producer

Birds Like Us

2022

As Executive Producer

Love the Sinner

2017

As Co-Executive Producer

Food Chains

2014

As Executive Producer

Vessel

2014

As Executive Producer

The First Step

2023

As Executive Producer

For the Love of Rutland

2020

As Executive Producer

Mayor

2020

As Co-Executive Producer

You Resemble Me

2022

As Executive Producer

Hateship Loveship

2014

As Executive Producer

Boycott

2021

As Executive Producer

Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

2022

As Executive Producer

My Name Is Andrea

2022

As Executive Producer

The Art of Rebellion

2022

As Executive Producer

The Queen of Versailles

2012

As Co-Executive Producer

Body Parts

2022

As Executive Producer

The Armor of Light

2015

As Executive Producer

The Iran Job

2012

As Executive Producer

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