Geraldo Cantarino

Geraldo Cantarino is a Brazilian-born journalist, graduated in Journalism from Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), in Niterói, Brazil. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Directing for Television and Theatre from ARTTS International, in Yorkshire, and an MA in Television Documentary from Goldsmiths, University of London. He was selected to take part in an International TV Journalism Programme by Visnews (today Reuters) to visit television stations and international organisations in England, United States, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland.

Cantarino joined the King's Brazil Institute as PhD student in October 2015. His main research interest is in the State Visit of President Ernesto Geisel to London, from 4 to 7 May 1976, the first of a Brazilian Head of State to the United Kingdom. Considered one of the most controversial visits at that time, the invitation received strong criticism in Britain by those who were opposed to Brazil’s domestic policies during the dictatorship (1964-1985). The research will question why the visit went ahead despite all the pressure against it from human rights defenders, including members of Amnesty International, MPs, and members of the general public. Professor Anthony Pereira, Director of the Brazil Institute, is his supervisor and Dr Vinicius Carvalho is his co-supervisor.

Cantarino began his career in Brazil as a production assistant and later producer at Globo Ciência, an award-winning weekly TV series about science and technology broadcast nationally by Globo Network. He then worked as content researcher for educational TV programmes produced by Fundação Roberto Marinho, as TV reporter in Brasília for Bandeirantes Network and as scriptwriter and presenter for Multirio, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro’s production company, which broadcast their programmes through Bandeirantes and TVE.

Living in the UK since 1999, he is also a freelance photographer and writer with four books published and on sale in Brazil: 1964 - A Revolução para Inglês ver (Mauad,1999); Uma Ilha Chamada Brazil (Mauad, 2004); Segredos da Propaganda Anticomunista (Mauad, 2011); and A Ditadura que o Inglês viu (Mauad, 2014).