International
Events Producer Geo Darder was born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Miami, Florida.
He currently travels between Miami, New York City and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
From 1984 to 1988 Geo was a prominent model and actor in Miami with roles
on major local productions such as Miami Vice and featured in more than 20
national television commercials. From 1988 to 1992 as the owner of two successful
Miami modeling agencies, Premier and Jade, Geo was part of the renaissance
of South Beach as a top spot for national and international style. Mr. Darder
was also responsible for launching many of the hot Miami nightclubs in the
1990’s including; The Stop, Velvet, Mickey’s and Bash.
In
1999 Mr. Darder produced and directed a short film, The Escalator that was
shot in New York City. Nominated by Partnership for a Drug Free America
to participate in the Palm Springs Film Festival, the film was also presented
at the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana, Cuba.
A
long time member of the Art Deco Society of New York, in 2000 Mr. Darder
began working on cultural exchange programs between the United States and
Cuba.He organized a group of Art Deco collectors, architects and preservationists
to travel to Havana for the first Habana Deco symposium and conference in
2000. Since then he has worked with the Cuban National Heritage Organization
(Patrimonio Nacional) and Cuban National Union of Editors and Authors (UNEAC)
in developing an ongoing preservation programs in Havana for the city’s
Art Deco treasures. He went on to organize Rio Deco Conference in Brazil-2004/2005
and Buenos Aires Deco Conference in Argentina /2005
As
an events producer, Geo has worked in Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Guatemala,
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Venezuela, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. In 1997 he
produced for GEMS Television a charity gala and fashion show featuring Mary
McFadden. Geo has also worked with E! Entertainment and IFC in covering international
film festivals, documentary films and producing events. As a producer for
fashion photo shoots, Geo’s clients include International Male, Vogue
Europe, Harper’s and others.
In
2002 Geo Darder’s passion of Latin American traditions took him to Rio
de Janeiro for New Years. He decided the ceremony held on the beaches of Copacabana
in honor of Yemanja had to be experienced by all. In 2003 Geo created RIO
NEW YEARS a three-day event, that includes the Yemanja Music Project, which
has now become a tradition of its own. Winning a permanent position in Rio
de Janeiro´s cultural calendar of events.
Geo
Darder and Yemanja Music Project were invited in 2006 to take part in the
Brazilian Film Festival of Miami and Brazilian Film Festival of New York,
befitting Geo's favorite charity- Dreams Can Be Foundation.
Then
from 1999 to 2003 Geo produced a series of cultural exchange events with the
Film Festival in Havana.
In 2001 Mr. Darder opened the Cobre Gallery in Spanish Harlem, New York City.
Dedicated to opening a space in Manhattan for cross cultural dialogue and
exchange, Geo invited artists, journalists, academics and the public to celebrate
recent art from Cuban and the Caribbean. He also worked with the Cuban Artist
Fund in bringing celebrated artists Dance Academy Narciso Medina and others
to participate in cultural events and workshops.
