The Ransom

Every year more than 30,000 people are kidnapped around the world. Hostage-taking has become big business, with its own rules and key players. In response, insurance firms have developed specialised ’Kidnap and Ransom’ (K&R) policies for wealthy individuals and multinational corporations – the prime targets of hostage-takers.

This film examines the murky world of international kidnapping and K&R policies with exclusive access to one of the leading kidnap insurances and the top hostage negotiators he works with. We follow the case of Kenny Cisneros, the third member of his family to be kidnapped in less than a year, from beginning to end and hear from former hostages and key players in the industry.

Filmed in Venezuela, Abidjan, USA, UK, France and Denmark.