Dr. Vania Barraza Toledo, professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Literatures at the University of Memphis, has been named a 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar where she will be hosted by the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile teaching Latin American cinema and completing research on two Chilean women filmmakers, Alicia Scherson and Marcela Said from March-June 2027.
“Being selected as a Fulbright Scholar represents a meaningful opportunity to deepen my engagement with Chile’s dynamic cinematic landscape while collaborating with local students and scholars,” Barraza Toledo said.
“My research focuses on Chilean cinema, making Chile the ideal location for this project. Throughout my career, I have worked to promote Chilean cinema internationally; however, much of this work has been conducted from abroad, which limits sustained engagement with local film culture. The Fulbright award offers a unique opportunity for extended immersion in Chile, allowing me to deepen this research in direct dialogue with its cultural context.”
Barraza Toledo’s research has focused on Latin American literature and culture, where she has worked on fostering the international study of Chilean cinema in addition to organizing the annual Hispanic Film Festival at the University of Memphis. This project in Chile coincides with a Professional Development Assignment (PDA) awarded by the College of Arts and Sciences for the 2026–27 academic year.
Her research will explore the films of Scherson and Said and how they align the audience’s sensory experiences with that of their characters, engaging not only vision but also other senses. “This investigation is grounded in what I define as an aesthetic of women’s cinema, which I describe as ‘seeing with the body,’” Barraza Toledo said.
Barraza Toledo has authored two monographs, co-edited two volumes, and is currently completing a third co-edited book, along with publishing more than 30 academic articles — primarily on Chilean cinema.
