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Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci

Co-Founders of Optimist | Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci
A Passion for Understanding Global Issues
Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci
Salam Neighbor Trailer
Chris Temple & Zach Ingrasci
Living On One Dollar
Creating Change in Peña Banca
On Filming the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Chris
Chris
Chris Temple & Zach Ingrasci
Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci
A Passion for Understanding Global Issues
Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci
Salam Neighbor Trailer
Chris Temple & Zach Ingrasci
Living On One Dollar
Creating Change in Peña Banca
On Filming the Syrian Refugee Crisis

From living in a Syrian refugee camp to surviving on $1 a day in Guatemala and spending 10 years documenting the journey of an undocumented boy living in New York City, Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci are award-winning humanitarians, activists, and filmmakers. On-stage, they demystify some of the world’s most complex situations, leaving audiences feeling more connected and empowered to make a difference.

As co-founders of Optimist, Temple and Ingrasci have created more than 15 films and series that have raised $91.5 million for the films’ causes — changing over 275,000 lives. Their films have been released globally by Netflix, Amazon, National Geographic, and The Atlantic.

Temple and Ingrasci have received widespread acclaim as bold storytellers and compassionate leaders of social justice — honoured with the 2016 Muslim Public Affairs Council Annual Media Award, and recognized alongside Bill Gates and Angelina Jolie as two of the top 100 visionary leaders of 2015 by YPO’s Real Leaders Magazine. They have been called upon to share their expertise at TEDx, the United Nations, and the World Humanitarian Summit, and have been featured on CBS This Morning, as well as in major publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Variety.

While best known for directing feature documentaries, including Living On One Dollar, Salam Neighbour, and their newest release, Five Years North, their gift for storytelling also extends to the business world. As entrepreneurs, they’ve spoken at World 50 and WPO, and have collaborated with global brands, including Google, to tell their brand stories and expand their philanthropic impact.

Temple and Ingrasci are equal parts inspiring and relatable. The stories they share are guaranteed to generate empathy and to humanize the world’s most complex and divisive issues.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

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Client reviews

  • Chris and Zach are pushing the boundaries of how we tell stories and maximize social impact in the 21st century. At just 28, they bring passion matched with professionalism and a humble respect for the people they’re seeking to help. They make an excellent addition to any panel or keynote.

  • These young people are not just gifted documentarians, they are micro-economists who offer a real world glimpse into third world poverty — and, perhaps more surprisingly, real world answers. This is, amazingly, a hopeful film. It’s moving, inspiring and important.

  • This is a must-watch film that provides a unique look into the hardship and hope of life in extreme poverty.

  • This film is important… because it shatters the idea that there isn’t anything that one can do, that the problem is too big.

  • With an award-winning film, an eight-part video series, and a five-star presentation, Chris and Zach brought a complete package to our school. They’re relatable and inspiring, and most importantly, their efforts translated into action for my students.

  • Seeing you guys live your dreams has inspired me beyond words. I felt so connected to your journey, and know that I too can find my own passion and pursue it. I’m going to start with the little things, the individual connections, and truly make a difference. Tonight, you sparked a new journey, thank you.

  • What I love about this film is the resilience it reveals… what you’ll see, as Chris and Zach saw when they moved into Za’atari camp, is that beyond headlines, behind the labels, are people that every one of you can relate to.

  • [Chris and Zach] don’t just make documentaries. They make themselves part of the story.

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