04 / About

David Alexander

Geneva, CH
David Alexander — on location
On location / Mauritania

Everything
is interesting.

My work sits at the intersection of journalism, documentary filmmaking, and strategic communications — shaped by over fifteen years working in complex international environments, usually with a camera close by. I create emotive, visually driven narratives that make complicated issues feel immediate, relatable, and real.

Location From Los Angeles, now live in Geneva where I work at UNHCR
Current Video Production Officer, UNHCR — since 2021
Education M.S., Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, 2011
Teaching Guest lecturer, Sciences Po Paris — Impact & Documentary Production
01Index A.David Alexander 2010 — present

Creative Producer | International Media & Communications

Statement

Fifteen years producing films at the intersection of journalism, humanitarian work, and editorial. Based in Geneva. Currently with UNHCR; bylines in The New Yorker, TIME, The Atlantic, and the Wall Street Journal.

02 / Selected Work

Case Studies

03 entries
The Fire Brigade — Mauritania
f.1 — 01 The New Yorker · 2024

The Fire Brigade

Bridging the gap between UNHCR advocacy and journalism — earned media placement for UNHCR as a New Yorker Documentary.
Nansen Refugee Award
f.1 — 02 UNHCR · Geneva · 2025

Nansen Refugee Award

Cinematic advocacy at a moment of donor fatigue.
Elton John AIDS Foundation
f.1 — 03 EJAF · 2015 – 2019

Elton John AIDS Foundation

Five countries, a body of films humanising the fight against HIV for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
03 / Filmography

Selected Work

18 entries
f.3 — A UNHCR · United Nations
2025 The Story of Wenyen Gabriel NBA player Wenyen Gabriel on his journey from refugee camp to professional basketball. UNHCR → 2024 Sudan: One Year of War Op-doc with UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi on the Sudan crisis. TIME Op-Doc → 2024 Global Displacement Data: These Are Not Just Numbers UNHCR's first public-facing integration of AI voiceover — produced using ElevenLabs for the Global Trends data report. UNHCR → 2023 How Financial Assistance Works for Refugees in an Emergency Explaining UNHCR's emergency cash assistance programmes to global audiences. UNHCR → 2023 UNHCR Global Trends Report 110 million people forcibly displaced — visualising the scale of the global refugee crisis. UNHCR → 2023 Meheba: From Refuge to Resilience A refugee settlement becomes a hub of self-reliance. Zambia. UNHCR → 2022 Tales of Hope in Portugal Stories of refugee resilience and integration in Portugal. UNHCR → The Archives Memories of Displacement A journey through the UNHCR archives. UNHCR →
f.3 — B Foundations, Philanthropy & Editorial
2019 Elton John Meets LGBTQI Youth in South Africa Part of a larger body of work produced for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in South Africa. EJAF → 2019 A Mother's Moment: Ending HIV Transmission Documenting the fight to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission in Lesotho. EJAF → 2018 Starkey + Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Initiative Field film documenting hearing missions across Africa. CTAOI → 2017 Virgin Unite + Starkey Hearing Foundation Documenting the partnership between Virgin Unite and Starkey Hearing Foundation. Virgin Unite → 2016 Starkey Hearing Foundation Visits the Dalai Lama On the ground in Dharamsala as Starkey brings hearing aids to Tibetan refugees — and meets the Dalai Lama. Starkey → 2016 The Refugee Rapper A Syrian refugee finds his voice through hip-hop in Athens, Greece. The Atlantic → 2013 Digital Jobs Africa How digital employment is transforming livelihoods across the continent. Rockefeller → 2013 Chhouk: The Elephant with a Prosthetic Foot A young elephant's survival story in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains. Wildlife Alliance →
f.3 — C Personal & Video Blogs
2022 Where the Rhône Meets the Arve A strange natural phenomenon at the confluence of two Geneva rivers. Original music by David Alexander. Personal → 2021 Regular Guy Does Massive Cycle Riding a single speed around Lake Geneva. Original music by David Alexander. Personal → 2020 London Lockdown Day 1 A video diary from the first day of lockdown in London. Original music by David Alexander. Personal → 2019 Aerial Athens Athens from above. Personal → 2017 Day in the Life of a Geezer (London Tube 360) Experimenting with 360 camera technology on the London Underground. Personal → 2017 DIY Selfie "Stick" Building a DIY camera rig and taking it around London. Personal →
Published in
The New Yorker TIME Wall Street Journal The Atlantic ABC News The Economist ESPN Travel Channel Times of Israel Current TV Mashable
05 / Contact

Get in touch

Available for commissions

Get
in touch.

Email daveisyourfriend@gmail.com
Phone +1 310-666-7885
Location Geneva, Switzerland