Michael Davie
Michael Davie is an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and journalist who explores conflict, courage, and the human spirit in stories that challenge and inspire.
Compassionate Witness
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Explorer
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Documentarian
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Compassionate Witness • Explorer • Documentarian •
More about Michael
Michael Davie is an Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker who has spent his life working at the frontlines of conflict, asking a simple but urgent question: what connects us, even at our most divided?
Born during the civil war in Rhodesia and raised alongside a father working in refugee camps across war zones, Michael’s worldview was shaped early by both the brutality of conflict and the quiet, enduring humanity that persists within it. Traveling widely from a young age, he witnessed firsthand that even in the most fractured places, people share the same fundamental needs — for dignity, belonging, meaning, and hope.
That insight became the driving force behind a 25-year career telling deeply human stories from across the globe — from former child soldiers in Liberia to inmates in South African prisons, from guerrilla fighters to communities rebuilding after violence. His work includes War Child, The Choir, and Gorilla Murders, as well as the landmark global series Belief, hosted by Oprah Winfrey, which explored how faith expresses our shared search for meaning across cultures and continents.
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On stage, Michael brings audiences inside these worlds — not as distant observer, but as someone who has lived alongside people in moments of profound crisis and transformation. His talks are powerful, deeply personal, and often unexpectedly hopeful, revealing how connection can emerge in the most unlikely places.
At a time when division, fear, and polarization dominate public life, Michael’s work offers a different perspective: that empathy is not naive — it is essential. That understanding is not a luxury — it is a tool. And that even in the darkest circumstances, our shared humanity remains the most powerful force we have.
Speaking Topics
Resilience
Geopolitics
Exploration
Culture
Watch Michael in action
Presentations
The Art of Risk: Insights from a Global Journalist
Documentary filmmaker and journalist Michael Davie takes audiences inside some of the world’s most dangerous stories. Through footage and firsthand accounts from acclaimed films including Gorilla Murders, Liberia: American Dream?, War Child, and Assassins, and his recent work on Trafficked, he reveals how calculated risk, meticulous planning, and moral courage serve the pursuit of truth.
The Courage to Connect
Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Michael Davie draws on 25 years working in challenging environments—from war zones and prisons to communities shaped by violence and displacement. Drawing on stories from his films including War Child, Gorilla Murders, Liberia: An American Dream, and The Choir, he reveals how trust is built amid fear, and offers a practical framework for empathetic leadership, connection, and finding common ground in our shared humanity.
"We all have the power to change our lives and make the world a better place."
– Michael Davie