Academia
After graduating from a Master of Arts degree in 2004 at the University of Manchester, I worked as a freelance documentary filmmaker in Europe and Colombia. Since 2009 I've been teaching documentary film, visual anthropology, research techniques. film and experimental media at the University of Magdalena (Colombia) Central University, (Colombia), the National Colombian Film School, Johannes-Gutenberg University (Germany), University of Groningen (The Netherlands), and the Amsterdam Film School (The Netherlands). Since 2018, I have ventured into virtual reality and augmented reality storytelling. Currently, I am an associate professor for documentary film at the University of Magdalena (Colombia), where I explore collaborative filmmaking, experimental storytelling and post-screen theories.
Education
2019-2024
University of Groningen
PhD in Arts, Culture and Media. Title: Visions of Power, Powerful Visions.
2002-2004
University of Manchester
M.A. in Visual Anthropology. Graduation film: Message from a Saint.
1999-2002
University of Hamburg
Undergraduate studies in Anthropology, Art History and Media Studies.
Work experience
-
2017 – current University of Magdalena, Colombia. Associate Professor for Documentary Film.
​
-
2021 – 2022 University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Thesis Supervisor, Arts, Culture and Media (B.A. & M.A.).
-
2020 Amsterdam Film School, The Netherlands. Lecturer.
-
2019 – 2020 University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Teaching Assistant.
-
2014 – 2016 Central University, Bogotá, Colombia. Lecturer for Documentary Film.
​
-
2013 – 2016 National Film School Colombia, Colombia. Lecturer.
​
-
2009 – 2013 University of Magdalena, Colombia. Lecturer for Documentary Film.
Research projects, grants and stipends
-
2024 Co-researcher: Pueblo Agua (Water Village). Fonciencias research grant, University of Magdalena, Colombia.
​​
-
2023 Stipend of the Vicerrectorado de Igualdad e Inclusión, Universidad de Granada, Spain: Lorca with Pride Virtual Reality.
​
-
2020 Principal Researcher: Masks of the Sierra Phase II – Virtual Reality. Fonciencias Research Grant, University of Magdalena.
​
-
2019 Co-researcher and supervisor: La Piragua - Navegando por el Cesar. XR component. Sistema General de Regalías, Ministry of Science and Technology, Colombia.
​
-
2017 Principal Researcher: Masks of the Sierra. Fonciencias Research Grant, University of Magdalena, Colombia.
​
-
2011 Co-researcher: The Accordion’s Voyage [film]. Fonciencias Research Grant University of Magdalena, Colombia.
​
-
2002 Emmy and Alfred B. Steffens Stiftung University of Hamburg, Germany, research project: “Conversion to Islam in a Catholic Nation - Caracas, Venezuela”.
Awards and Honours
-
2024 Award for Innovative Educational Experience, University of Magdalena.
​
-
2016 Teaching Distinction National Film School of Colombia
​
-
2013 Sierra Nevada Medal for Excellence in Research for The Accordion’s Voyage research project, University of Magdalena, Colombia.
​
-
2012 Teaching Distinction University of Magdalena, Colombia
Talks and Conferences
-
2024 Congreso de Derechos Humanos, Santa Marta, Colombia. Paper: La Piragua Transmedia as catalyst for media sovereignty.
​
-
2023 Primer Congreso Internacional de Investigación para la Paz, University of Granada, Spain. Paper: Tecnología, Poder y Descolonización: La Transformación de la Representación de la Indigenidad en la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
​
-
2019 Religion and the Production of Difference – Annual Conference of the Dutch Association of the Study of Religion, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Paper: “Waking the Spirits: Audiovisual Representation, Mimesis and the Production of Knowledge in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta”. October 31.
​
-
2019 University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. “Exploring Historical Power Imbalances in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta”. June 20.
​
-
2019 Edna Manley School of Fine Arts, Kingston, Jamaica. “Collaborative Filmmaking Practices in a Post-colonial Setting”. June 23.
-
2017 ICOG Theme Group Arts, Media, Moving Images, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. “Collaborative Indigenous Filmmaking as Decolonization Method”. December 12.
​
-
2016 University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. “With a Little Help from Your Friends: No-budget Documentary Filmmaking”. November 18.
-
2016 Conversatorio de Cine, Universidad Tecnológica, Bogotá, Colombia. “Collaborative Methods in the Making of ‘The Ratonaut’ and ‘The Accordion’s Voyage’”. October 3.
​
-
2016 Festival de Cine Colombiano, Medellín, Colombia. “Documentary Production on the International Stage”. August 23-26.
​
-
2012: Symposium on Re-ethnisation, Johannes-Gutenberg Universität, Mainz, Germany. “The use of New Media in the Re-indigenization Process of the Kankuamo”. May 15.
​
-
2011 Conference of the German Anthropological Association, Vienna, Austria. Paper: “Spirits, Sprites and Indigeneity”. September 15.
​
-
2007 École Supérieure d’Audiovisuel Marrakech, Morocco. “Some women of Marrakech: The Ethnographic Cinema of Melissa Llewellyn-Davies”. April 9.
​
-
2006 Mainz Geography Lectures, Johannes-Gutenberg Universität, Mainz, Germany. “Tourism Videos: How the Memory of Images replaces the Memory of Experience”. December 3. ​​
​​