Culture Journalists

Balolas Carvalho

Journalist/ Writer/ Documentarian/ Producer

A truth seeker, freedom fighter, and service-driven spirit, embracing privilege as a responsibility. Unafraid of trials, always striving for deeper understanding and transformative action. If you don't like to be challenged, we are not a match! With a strong belief in the power of community, the work revolves around inspiring a regenerative way of being—politically aware, ethically driven, and heart-connected. Storytelling is seen as an ancient key to liberation, capable of healing and shifting narratives. Adaptability (I have lived in 32 houses, and counting!), creative problem-solving, and an unstoppable drive to create from the heart shape a career built on exploration, impact, and purpose. Current Roles Head of Production at HUMAN – Don't Skip Humanity Responsible for the production and direction of documentaries and video content, leading projects that amplify impactful storytelling and bring urgent narratives to a wider audience. Co-Founder & Director of PARA, Lisbon Leading the development of PARA, a new creative community space and café in the heart of Graça, Lisbon. PARA serves as a hub for specialty coffee and connection, bringing together local and international communities to co-create the future. Designed as a chameleon space, PARA adapts to the energy and vision of each event. Whether hosting art exhibitions, pop-up stores, team meet-ups, live concerts, immersive dining experiences, passionate debates, or live podcast recordings, the venue thrives on collaboration and creativity. Filmmaking & Journalism Produced Bukra, an independent documentary on resistance to Israeli occupation in the Jenin refugee camp, Palestine. Co-directed FRAGMENTED, a short documentary offering an intimate portrait of displacement, resilience, and the echoes of a homeland that no longer exists for a former Gazan political prisoner. Directed The Radicals: Commons and Urban Crisis in Berlin in collaboration with the Guerrilla Foundation while serving as a correspondent reporter for Contacto, an award-winning Luxembourg-based newspaper. Journalistic experience spans directing a community radio station in Cape Verde, collaborating with Bloomberg, Jornal i, SOL, and the investigative journalism project Setenta e Quatro, as well as reporting for Jornal Público, one of Portugal’s leading newspapers. The Journey The journalism path began in 2012, contributing as a freelance reporter for P3 and Público. Seven months were spent in Cape Verde directing and restructuring a community radio station while working as a stringer journalist for Bloomberg. Returning to Portugal, master’s studies in International Affairs were pursued while working for two startups in Los Angeles. In 2017, Jornal i was joined as a reporter covering Human Rights, the Environment, and Alternative Lifestyles. Reporting from 12 countries, the creation of the weekly segment Generation I explored the Millennial generation in Portugal. A 31-day journey through the Balkans by bus and train deepened the understanding of transnational narratives. Event Production & Cultural Curation Event production is seen as a powerful platform to create impact and apply a diverse set of skills, from creative direction to logistics, while leveraging an extensive international network. This passion for live experiences and cultural curation led to an early engagement in the field, producing meaningful events that bring people together. Since 2022, touring as a Lead VIP Tour Representative for SUPER Fan Live, working closely with major international artists: Volbeat European Tour 2022 – 35 shows Eros Ramazzotti European Tour 2023 – 40 shows Metallica Sweden 2023 – 2 shows Metallica Madrid 2024 – 2 shows Dogstar Madrid 2024 WWE Cardiff 2022 Beyond the roadie life, part of the Waking Life Festival team, curating and producing the counter-culture stage (Apuro). Produced five editions of B. Fest and organized Yala, a fundraiser event in Lisbon that gathered 630 people for a day of music, art, and discussions on Palestine. Additional event collaborations include Encontros de Alvito, Enara Fest, Primal Gathering, Cultivation Berlin, and more