Akira Thompson has an extensive portfolio in the world of design-driven computer graphics. His experience is varied, ranging from boutique motion design studios to VFX houses, to global advertising agencies. His most recent roles include Design Director at Framestore and Creative Director at R/GA. Akira currently holds the position of Group Creative Director, Creative Technology at PXP Studios, part of the Publicis Groupe. Hovering somewhere between design, visual effects, motion graphics, and generative AI, Akira offers a unique, cross-disciplinary perspective. He has contributed to projects for film, live event production, spatial computing, projection mapping and television commercials for clients such as Verizon, Google, Dell, Samsung, Nike and The New York Times. Recently, Akira has found himself captivated by the potential of generative AI technology. Over the past 2+ years, he has dedicated himself to exploring the ever-evolving landscape of AI tools. His goal is to develop unique methodologies for crafting high-quality visual content that is innovative and scalable.

Sean Cushing is the co-founder of Cantina Creative, a high-end visual effects and design company located in Los Angeles. Prior to the formation of Cantina Creative in 2010, Cushing served as Executive Producer for Pixel Liberation Front, a visual effects company in Venice, California. Cushing is credited on over fifty blockbuster features including Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, Iron Man, Lord of the Rings, Matrix Revolutions, and Free Guy. Cushing’s intense workload includes overseeing the creative vision of projects, working closely with visual effects artists and collaborating with directors such as James Cameron, Jon Favreau, and Rawson Marshall Thurber. In addition, Cushing has worked on numerous television commercials and other long-form content. Cushing has guided Cantina Creative toward continued growth within the visual effects industry, including creating and delivering work for such studios as Marvel, Sony, and Warner Bros. In 1999, Cushing entered the entertainment sector when he joined Reel Efx, a special effects company. Prior to Reel Efx, Cushing applied his skills in product design and computer aided modeling to help create fountain structures around the world (including the now famous Bellagio feature) for renowned architectural firm Wet Design. Cushing actively writes and produces original content and has numerous features films and television series currently in development. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Fatimah Abdullah has two decades of production experience in the advertising and entertainment industry, with top awards for linear and VR content. She has led global projects for Netflix, 9 Story, Mattel, HBO, Ubisoft, Sesame Workshop, Cartoon Network and Delta Air Lines among many others. Before joining BWA, she led creative production as Series Producer at 9 Story Media on a Netflix Original, successfully recruiting emerging talent in lead creative roles. As Executive Producer at Primal Screen, she headed all commercial projects and developed the studio’s first original IP, Jelly, Ben and Pogo, now airing on PBS Kids. As EP at TRICK 3D, she built unprecedented VR visualization pipelines for IHG, expanding the business model to 5 IHG hotel brands in less than one year, and oversaw Delta Air Lines’ first unified global CG/VR production effort, bringing LATAM, EMEA and US sales content under one unified content program. As an Atlanta-native, she has directed arts programs for community organizations throughout the Southeast. She served on the founding board of Dashboard Co-op, a nationally recognized arts organization for its efforts in revitalizing urban economies. She served as the first - and only - Black President of ASIFA-South in its 30 year history. She remains a dedicated board member of ASIFA-South and currently serves on the board of the Atlanta Film Society.

Hyperreal.io CEO and Chief Architect, Remington Scott, is known for his work on Academy Award winning VFX for blockbuster films and the biggest selling video games. His achievements include creating Gollum / Sméagol for Peter Jackson’s The Lord Of The Rings trilogy; he created the first photo-real digital humans in film for the Academy Award-winning VFX for Spider-Man 2; and the first motion captured theatrical feature film. Scott was named to The Wrap’s 2022 “Innovators List” for, among other efforts, “giving the Metaverse a soul.” He is currently building the platform for ownership of digital identities of the worlds most recognized celebrities to monetize across Ai opportunities.

LORI H. SCHWARTZ is a true technology catalyst (‘Tech Cat’). As a leading advisor and speaker in marketing and tech innovation, Lori collaborates with executives of multiple brands, tech, and content companies to ensure their understanding of emerging content models. Los Angeles-based, Lori is a CNN Technology contributor. Lori’s StoryTech initiative facilitates communication between storytellers and technology companies. Their trends briefings, curation, and tour products have become well known globally through the work @CES, @NAB, @NATPE, and @IBC. Previously Lori was a Governor for the Television Academy’s Interactive Media Peer Group, driving thought leadership for the future of interactive media. She was Chief Technology Catalyst for McCann Worldgroup, North America where she drove tech and content innovation and was the key principle to launching the highly regarded IPGLAB where she facilitated emerging media upfronts for Microsoft, Intel, General Motors, Nestlé, and Sony. She has been profiled as one of the “30 Executives Shaping the Evolution of Media and Technology” by Variety and “100 People to Have Lunch With” by MediaPost Publications. An active spokesperson, Lori launched Digital Hollywood’s ‘Women’s Entertainment and Technology Mentor Program’ and is a recipient of the Lucy Hood Digerati Award for her contributions to the Television Academy.