
Abigail Disney
Personal Info
Known for
Production
Gender
Female
Birthday
1960-01-24 (65 years old)
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Abigail 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.
Known For
Acting
(2022)
Crew
(2024)
The Quilters
Executive Producer
(2023)
The First Step
Executive Producer
(2022)
Birds Like Us
Executive Producer
(2022)
My Name Is Andrea
Executive Producer
(2022)
You Resemble Me
Executive Producer
(2022)
The Art of Rebellion
Executive Producer
(2022)
The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales
Story, Director, Producer
(2022)
Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power
Executive Producer
(2022)
Body Parts
Executive Producer
(2021)
Reality Winner
Co-Executive Producer
(2021)
Missing in Brooks County
Executive Producer
(2021)
Boycott
Executive Producer
(2021)
Holler
Executive Producer
(2021)
Rebel Hearts
Executive Producer
(2021)
Women in Blue
Executive Producer
(2020)
Disclosure
Executive Producer
(2020)
For the Love of Rutland
Executive Producer
(2020)
Mayor
Co-Executive Producer
(2020)
Afterward
Executive Producer
(2020)
The Assistant
Executive Producer
(2019)
Cooked: Survival by Zip Code
Executive Producer
(2019)
A High School Rape Goes Viral: Roll Red Roll
Executive Producer
(2019)
Roll Red Roll
Executive Producer
(2019)
American Woman
Executive Producer
(2018)
Netizens
Executive Producer
(2018)
Call Her Ganda
Executive Producer
(2018)
The Tale
Executive Producer
(2018)
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
Associate Producer
(2018)
Same God
Executive Producer
(2017)
Bending the Arc
Co-Executive Producer
(2017)
Naila and the Uprising
Executive Producer
(2017)
Love the Sinner
Co-Executive Producer
(2017)
Lovesong
Co-Executive Producer
(2017)
When God Sleeps
Executive Producer
(2017)
That Way Madness Lies...
Executive Producer
(2017)
Liyana
Co-Executive Producer
(2016)
Cameraperson
Executive Producer
(2016)
Shadow World
Executive Producer
(2015)
From This Day Forward
Executive Producer
(2015)
Hot Girls Wanted
Executive Producer
(2015)
The Armor of Light
Director, Executive Producer
(2015)
The Trials of Spring
Executive Producer
(2015)
Would Jesus Wear a Sidearm?
Director
(2014)
Food Chains
Executive Producer
(2014)
Vessel
Executive Producer
(2014)
Hateship Loveship
Executive Producer
(2014)
Out in the Night
Executive Producer
(2014)
Land Ho!
Co-Executive Producer
(2014)
She's Beautiful When She's Angry
Co-Producer
(2013)
Open Heart
Co-Executive Producer
(2013)
Seeds of Time
Executive Producer
(2012)
The Invisible War
Executive Producer
(2012)
The Queen of Versailles
Co-Executive Producer
(2012)
The Iran Job
Executive Producer
(2011)
Return
Executive Producer
(2011)
Lost Bohemia
Executive Producer
(2010)
Children of Invention
Co-Executive Producer
(2010)
Family Affair
Executive Producer
(2010)
Sons of Perdition
Executive Producer
(2010)
Secrets of the Tribe
Executive Producer
(2009)
Sergio
Executive Producer
(2009)
Playground
Co-Executive Producer
(2008)
Pray the Devil Back to Hell
Producer