speakers
See these and more inspirational speakers in the MAX keynotes and Sneaks.
Stay tuned as we continue to add more keynote speakers.
Lynsey Addario
Lynsey Addario
Photographer
Lynsey began photographing professionally for the Buenos Aires Herald in Argentina in 1996 with no previous photographic training or studies. She eventually began freelancing for the AP in New York, before moving abroad to New Delhi, India to cover South Asia. In 2000, Addario first traveled to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to document life and oppression under the Taliban, and has since covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Darfur, and Congo. She photographs features and breaking news focused on humanitarian and human rights issues across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.
In 2015, American Photo Magazine named Lynsey as one of five most influential photographers of the past 25 years, saying she changed the way we saw the world's conflicts.
Lynsey’s recent bodies of work include an ongoing reportage on Syrian refugees for The New York Times, ISIS’ push into Iraq, the civil war in South Sudan, and African and Middle Eastern migrants arriving on Sicily's shores. Addario was the official photographer for the Nobel Peace Center's 10th peace prize exhibition, photographing 2014 winners Malala Yousefzai and Kailash Satyarthi for an exhibition at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.
Lynsey has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the MacArthur Fellowship, or ‘Genius Grant’ 2009; Overseas Press Club's award for 'Best photographic reporting from abroad in magazines and books' for her series ‘Veiled Rebellion: Afghan Women’. She was part of the New York Times team to win the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, for her photographs in ‘Talibanistan’. In 2010 Lynsey was named one of 20 women on Oprah Winfrey's Power List, for her Power of Bearing Witness, and one of Glamour Magazine’s 20 women of the year in 2011. In 2014, Lynsey was included as one of eleven renowned women photographers in the National Geographic Women of Vision exhibition and photography book. Lynsey is married with one son.
Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele
Actor, Writer, Sneaks Host
Jordan Peele is the co-star and co-creator of Comedy Central’s Key & Peele, which in 2014 won a Peabody Award and an American Comedy Award for Best Alternative Comedy Series. The show has become a TV and internet sensation with 12 Emmy nominations and over 900 million online hits.
Additionally, Jordan was named among TIME magazine’s “Most Influential People of 2014” and Entertainment Weekly’s “Entertainers of the Year of 2012.” Jordan and his co-star and co-creator Keegan-Michael Key have also been featured on the cover of TIME magazine‘s Idea Issue and the cover of Entertainment Weekly’s Comedy Issue in which they also edited.
Jordan recurred on the Emmy-winning FX series Fargo, the CBS series Life in Pieces, Fox’s Bob’s Burgers, and Adult Swim’s Children’s Hospital. Jordan was a series regular on FOX’s MADtv for five seasons where he received an Emmy nomination for his music video “Sad Fitty Cent.” He has also appeared on Modern Family, the Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer, Workaholics, The Mindy Project, Reno 911!, Little Fockers and Wanderlust.
Most recently, Jordan finished shooting the New Line feature Keanu which he stars alongside Keegan-Michael Key. Jordan also produced and co-wrote the script with Key & Peele Alex Rubens. Other projects Jordan has in development include: Paramount’s Substitute Teacher, based on the Key & Peele sketch of the same name, and New Line’s Police Academy all which he will produce and star with Keegan-Michael Key. Jordan, Keegan and Alex Rubens will also executive produce a single-camera comedy for Fox starring vine star Andrew Bachelor. Additionally, Jordan will soon direct his first feature film Get Out, which he also wrote, with Blumhouse and QC Entertainment producing.
Zac Posen
Zac Posen
Fashion designer
Zac Posen launched his eponymous collection in 2001, with a vision for modern American glamour that married couture technique with striking innovation. Envisioned in his New York atelier, Zac introduced a collection that combined legendary Hollywood glamour with a downtown sensibility, enhancing women’s natural forms and enabling them to be their most alluring, empowered selves.
Raised in New York, Zac began his design training early. At 16, he attended Parson’s School of Design followed by London’s Central Saint Martins University. His collection launch quickly gained following by press, consumers and retailers alike as he carved his signature style. Two years following his first collection, he was awarded one of fashion’s most prestigious honors, Swarovski’s The Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear by the CFDA. Quickly, he was solidifying his position as a preeminent American designer.
Today, Zac is known globally for his technique in artisanal craftsmanship, anatomical construction and textile manipulation. His daywear, suiting and red carpet eveningwear are infused with his bold sophistication, sexy femininity and distinctive glamour. Worn by leading women, including Uma Thurman, First Lady Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts, he has become a staple on the red carpet.
His collections have grown to include Zac Posen, ZAC Zac Posen and Z Spoke Zac Posen with offerings in handbags, accessories, eyewear and fur. The collections are found in leading department and specialty stores worldwide including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney’s New York, Harvey Nichols, and Seibu. In October 2013, Zac entered the bridal space with the launch of Truly Zac Posen in partnership with David’s Bridal, arriving in store in February 2014.
Most recently, Zac has served as judge with Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia on Lifetime’s mainstay Project Runway, in its twelfth season. In keeping with Zac's commitment to mentorship in design, he has developed the Zac Posen Scholarship for Fashion Design at The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. In May 2013, Zac received from The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Alumni Achievement Award.
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Writer, Director
With his vibrant imagination and dedication to richly layered storytelling, QUENTIN TARANTINO (Writer/Director) has established himself as one of the most celebrated filmmakers of his generation.
In 2016, Tarantino was awarded an AFI Honorary Degree for his heroic effort to shine a proper light on 70mm and the beauty of the big screen experience.
In October of 2014, Tarantino became owner & programmer of the New Beverly Cinema, Los Angeles’ longest tasting repertory theater. In 2015 it was named “Best Indie Movie Theater” by the LA Weekly.
In 2013, Tarantino won his second Oscar for Best Screenplay for DJANGO UNCHAINED, starring Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, and Walton Goggins. DJANGO UNCHAINED was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards (with wins for Waltz and Tarantino for Best Screenplay), five BAFTAS, and five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, Tarantino’s World War II epic, was a critical and box office sensation, garnering numerous awards, including six BAFTA nominations, four Golden Globe nominations and eight Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Achievement in Directing.
Prior to INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, Tarantino thrilled audiences with DEATH PROOF, starring Kurt Russell and Zoë Bell.
In Tarantino’s KILL BILL VOL. 1 and KILL BILL VOL. 2, Uma Thurman, as “The Bride”, enacted a “roaring rampage of revenge” on her former lover and boss, played by David Carradine.
Tarantino wrote and directed JACKIE BROWN, a crime caper loosely based on Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch, starring Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda and Michael Keaton.
Tarantino co-wrote, directed and starred in PULP FICTION, which won numerous critics’ awards, a Golden Globe and Academy Award® for Best Screenplay, and the Palme D’Or at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.
Tarantino wrote, directed and starred in RESERVOIR DOGS, which made an auspicious debut at the Sundance Film Festival and marked the beginning of Tarantino’s career as a filmmaker.
Following the success of RESERVOIR DOGS, the screenplays that Tarantino wrote during his tenure as a video store clerk became hot properties: Tony Scott directed Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in TRUE ROMANCE, and Robert Rodriguez directed George Clooney and Salma Hayek in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.
Tarantino joined Rodriguez, Allison Anders and Alexandre Rockwell by directing, writing and executive producing a segment of the omnibus feature FOUR ROOMS. For television, Tarantino directed the season five finale of “CSI.” The episode, titled “Grave Danger” garnered Tarantino an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. Tarantino made his television directorial debut in 1995 with an episode of the long-running drama “ER.”
Tarantino’s diverse work as a producer exemplifies both his commitment to first-time filmmakers and his support for his experienced peers and colleagues. Tarantino served as an executive producer on Eli Roth’s HOSTEL, and HOSTEL: PART II, Roger Avary’s KILLING ZOE, and Katrina Bronson’s DALTRY CALHOUN, and Robert Rodriguez’s FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.
