Cassandra Giraldo

Cassandra Giraldo (born May 4, 1989) is an American cinematographer and documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. She was a staff producer and cinematographer for Vice News Tonight on HBO from 2016 to 2020 and has covered a range of social and political topics in the United States and abroad as a photojournalist and documentary cameraperson.

Early life and education Cassandra Giraldo was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1989. She is of Mexican-American and Colombian descent. She attended Skidmore College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Affairs and French in 2011.

Career and documentary work

Photojournalism and cinematography Giraldo's career has focused on visual storytelling, with her work appearing in major publications and documentary platforms. From 2016 to 2020, she was a staff producer and cinematographer at Vice News Tonight on HBO, contributing to news segments covering social justice movements, political protests, and cultural shifts in the U.S. The After School Project – A long-term documentary photography project that captures the after-school lives of New York City teenagers. Inspired by a Brooklyn teen shooting, Giraldo sought to contrast the intimate and playful aspects of teenage life with the challenges of navigating urban environments. The project gained recognition through Instagram and was a finalist for the Getty Institute's inaugural Instagram grant in 2015. Chutanacuy – A photo-documentary project documenting carnival traditions in Ollantaytambo, Peru. The series captures local customs, including Chutanacuy, a tug-of-war-style competition that determines who will harvest the ceremonial "tree of gifts."

Awards and recognition

Emmy Award for Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a Newscast (as part of Vice News Tonight’s coverage of the George Floyd protests in 2020). Winner, American Photography 32 (2016) – Photograph of the Brooklyn Technical High School football team from The After School Project. Finalist, Lucie Emerging Scholarship (2016). Named "30 Under 30 Women Photographers" by Photo Boite (2016).