Cristina Venegas

Cristina Venegas is an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She specializes in Latin American film and media, with a focus on Cuban digital culture and cultural theory. Her work examines intersections between state policies, individual creativity, and technological evolution in Latin America.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Critical Studies, School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California (2000)
  • M.F.A., Film History, Theory & Criticism, Columbia University (1987)
  • B.S., Radio-Television-Film, University of Texas, Austin (1981)

Research Interests: Venegas explores Cuban cinema, digital media activism, Latin American television history, and the historiography of media technologies. She curates film programs and co-founded Santa Barbara’s Latino CineMedia Festival (2004–2011). Her editing work includes the Media Matters book series for Rutgers University Press.

Key Achievements:

• Author of Digital Dilemmas (2010), honored with the Choice Book Award
• Co-editor of Digital Activism, Community Media, and Sustainable Communication (2020)
• Curator of international film festivals and juror for script competitions

Advising & Outreach: Venegas co-developed a filmmaking program for Santa Barbara high school students, fostering youth engagement with media arts. Her academic work bridges university and community collaboration, emphasizing accessible media education.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with UCSB’s Film and Media Studies Department, contributing to interdisciplinary research clusters on global media and digital humanities.