Weber Shandwick for UNICEF: There is Hope Campaign

To celebrate their 70^th anniversary, UNICEF commissioned Jonathan Torgovnik to create a series of compelling short films and photo features for the launch of their global testimonial campaign “There Is Hope”. The project features children and adults from across the world who have benefitted from the essential services and support UNICEF provides. Given Jonathan’s extensive experience in environmental portraiture, documentary filmmaking and covering sensitive topics including women and children of conflict, made him the ideal creative talent for the project.

Working both directly with UNICEF and with their London-based agency, Weber Shandwick, the choice of subjects and locations were paired down via extensive research. Jonathan traveled out to the field with UNICEF and Weber Shandwick, spending time in each location to get to know each subject prior to the shoot. Jonathan captured the portraiture, video interviews, and supporting reportage material to help tell the subjects’ wider stories, with Weber Shandwick handling post production to create the finished films.

Jonathan commented: “I was fortunate to collaborate with UNICEF on this campaign for their 70th anniversary and during this project I met and photographed some remarkable individuals. Today they are adults who have survived and thrived because of the support they received from UNICEF when they were in dire need.”

“We travelled to five countries around the world, there was an encounter that was especially powerful for me. We met with Juan Carlos, in El Salvador, who when he was just six years old stepped on a land mine and lost both his hand and legs. With UNICEF’s support he was able to continue his studies and today, is a lawyer and running for mayor in his town. While photographing him, I felt the relentless energy he has to overcome his disability.”