Caribbean

Digital Humanist · Ph.D.

María
Cecilia
Reyes

Building worlds from the Global Caribbean.

Interactive Narratives Emergent Media Critical Making Moving Image & Live Arts
01

Bio

María Cecilia Reyes · Photo: Davide Colombino @ilgiovanepink

I make things and I study things, often at the same time. Films, VR experiences, interactive stories, community workshops, academic papers: for me these are all ways of asking the same questions about narrative, immersion, and what stories do to people.

I am Colombian, based in Barranquilla, moving between Europe and Latin America. I hold a double Ph.D. in Digital Humanities (Università di Genova) and Communication (Universidad del Norte), Cum Laude. I teach, research, and create at Universidad del Norte, where I coordinate the research-creation laboratory and the Master in Creation for Emergent Media. I have been Artist-in-Residence at Schloss Solitude (Germany) and Artistic Research Fellow at Future Media Theaters (Sweden).

PositionAssistant Professor · Communication & Humanities, Universidad del Norte
CoordinationUNI5LAB · Master in Creation for Emergent Media
ResearchInteractive Digital Narratives · Extended Reality · Decolonial Storytelling · Digital Humanities
Ph.D.Digital Humanities · Università di Genova (IT) & Universidad del Norte (CO) · 2019 · Cum Laude · Best Thesis Prize
ResidenciesSchloss Solitude Akademie (2021) · Future Media Theaters, Skövde (2022) · Visiting Prof. Università di Genova (2025) · Visiting Researcher Vilnius University (2022)
AwardsBest Full Paper ICIDS 2024 · Best Full Paper ICIDS 2023 · Teaching Excellence Award Uninorte 2024
LanguagesSpanish · Italian · English
02

Projects

Laboratorio Creativo de Experiencias, Memorias y Resonancias sobre Investigación-Creación

Digital Pedagogy

Laboratorio Creativo de Experiencias, Memorias y Resonancias sobre Investigación-Creación

2026

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An Educator's Guide to Interactive Digital Narrative

Digital Pedagogy

An Educator's Guide to Interactive Digital Narrative

2024

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STREAMS / CORRIENTES · ICIDS 2024

Digital Pedagogy

STREAMS / CORRIENTES · ICIDS 2024

2024

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Chill Out! Interactive Cinema is not Dead!

Interactive Narrative

Chill Out! Interactive Cinema is not Dead!

2024

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Interactive Fiction in Cinematic VR · Towards the Interactive Immersive Movie

Publication

Interactive Fiction in Cinematic VR · Towards the Interactive Immersive Movie

2024

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Inverted Dreaming

Immersive Media

Inverted Dreaming

2022

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Pueblo Santo · A Cumbia Trip

Interactive Narrative

Pueblo Santo · A Cumbia Trip

2022

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Same Different

Documentary

Same Different

2022

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En el Principio Todo Era Cumbia

Performance

En el Principio Todo Era Cumbia

2021

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Texts of Discomfort: Interactive Storytelling Art

Publication

Texts of Discomfort: Interactive Storytelling Art

2021

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Texts of Discomfort · ICIDS 2020 Art Exhibition

Interactive Narrative

Texts of Discomfort · ICIDS 2020 Art Exhibition

2020

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NIJOLE

Documentary

NIJOLE

2020

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ZENA · Interactive VR Film

Interactive Narrative

ZENA · Interactive VR Film

2018

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What Would an Artist Do?

Interactive Narrative

What Would an Artist Do?

2020

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Yona Friedman · Ceramic City VR

Immersive Media

Yona Friedman · Ceramic City VR

2021

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Interactive MOOC · CNR-ITD

Digital Pedagogy

Interactive MOOC · CNR-ITD

2020

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Le Marittime Irraggiungibili

Immersive Media

Le Marittime Irraggiungibili

2016

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Who Is Behind the Cameras?

Digital Pedagogy

Who Is Behind the Cameras?

2013

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Amazonia 2.0

Documentary

Amazonia 2.0

2012

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Autunno Viola

Documentary

Autunno Viola

2011

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Las Farotas de Talaigua

Documentary

Las Farotas de Talaigua

2009

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03

Publications

2025

Interactive Storytelling · ICIDS 2025 Proceedings, Parts I & II

Lecture Notes in Computer Science 16374–16375 · Springer · Eds. Reyes, M.C. & Nack, F. (Parts I & II) · Saint Julian, Malta

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2025

Interactive Storytelling · ICIDS 2024 Proceedings, Parts I & II

Lecture Notes in Computer Science 15467–15468 · Springer · Eds. Murray, J.T. & Reyes, M.C. · Barranquilla, Colombia

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2024

Interactive Fiction in Cinematic Virtual Reality: Towards the Interactive Immersive Movie

Mimesis International · ISBN 9788869773

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2024

An Educator's Guide to Interactive Digital Narrative: Syllabi and Resources from Around the World

ARDIN & Carnegie Mellon University Press · Ed. Reyes, M.C. et al.

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2021

Texts of Discomfort: Interactive Storytelling Art

Carnegie Mellon University ETC Press · Eds. Reyes, M.C. & Pope, J.

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2020

Come Disegnare un Corso Online: Criteri di Progettazione Didattica e della Comunicazione

Franco Angeli, Milano · Piras V., Reyes M.C., Trentin G. · ISBN 9788835103059

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2025

Electronic and New Media Arts with a focus on IDN

In Fisher et al. (Eds.), An Educator's Guide to Interactive Digital Narrative. Carnegie Mellon University Press · Reyes, M.C.

↗ View book
2024

Towards Immersography: Considerations for an Integrated Understanding of Immersive Narrative Experiences

In Screenwriting for Virtual Reality: Story, Space and Experience (pp. 101–125). Springer · Reyes, M.C.

↗ View chapter
2023

Understanding the Authoring Process

In Hargood et al. (Eds.), The Authoring Problem. Springer · Kitromili, S. & Reyes, M.C.

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2021

De la Cinematografía a la Inmersografía

Cuadernos de Cine Colombiano Nº31 · Reyes, M.C.

2021

La Forma Cinematografica della Realtà Virtuale

In Migliorini & Poli, L'effimero tangibile. Ginevra Bentivoglio Editoria · Reyes, M.C.

2018

Shooting an Interactive VR Film: ZENA's Production Case Study

In Rouse & Dionisio (Eds.), Looking Forward, Looking Back. Carnegie Mellon ETC Press · Reyes, M.C. & Zampolli, S.

2024

Interactive Digital Narrative Syllabi from Around the World: A Preliminary Analysis ★ Best Full Paper

ICIDS 2024, Barranquilla (pp. 19–38). Springer · Fisher, J.A., Reyes, M.C., & Barbara, J.

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2024

An Interview with Vincent Morisset, Interactive Film Director

Arte, Individuo y Sociedad, 36(1), 257–260 · Reyes, M.C. · doi: 10.5209/aris.92077

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2023

Decolonizing IDN Pedagogy From and with Global South: A Cross-Cultural Case Study ★ Best Full Paper

ICIDS 2023, Kobe (pp. 138–158). Springer · Reyes, M.C., Silva, C., & Koenitz, H.

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2022

Towards a Decolonial Framework for IDN

ICIDS 2022, Santa Cruz, CA (pp. 193–205). Springer · Silva, C., Reyes, M.C., & Koenitz, H.

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2022

From Screenwriting to Space-Writing

DISEGNO: A Designkultúra Folyóirata, 6(1), 86–103 · Reyes, M.C.

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2020

I-MOOC, un MOOC Interattivo Personalizzabile

Italian Journal of Educational Technology · Dodici, S., Reyes, M.C., & Trentin, G. · doi: 10.17471/2499-4324/1154

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2019

Combining Interactive Fiction with Cinematic Virtual Reality

9th International Conference on Digital and Interactive Arts (ARTECH 2019) · Reyes, M.C., & Dettori, G.

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2019

Developing a Media Hybridization Based on Interactive Narrative and Cinematic VR

Ekphrasis (2067-631X), 22(2) · Reyes, M.C., & Dettori, G.

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2019

Breaking Sequentiality: An Interactive MOOC

European Conference on e-Learning (pp. 674–XVI). ACI · Reyes, M.C., & Trentin, G.

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2019

Interactive Fiction in Cinematic Virtual Reality: An Interactive and Immersive Narrative

ECHO, (1), 211–217 · Reyes, M.C.

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2018

Measuring User Experience on Interactive Fiction in Cinematic Virtual Reality

ICIDS 2018, Dublin · Lecture Notes in Computer Science vol 11318. Springer · Reyes, M.C.

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2017

An Epistemological Approach to the Creation of Interactive VR Fiction Films

ICIDS 2017, Madeira · Lecture Notes in Computer Science vol 10690. Springer · Reyes, M.C.

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2017

Screenwriting Framework for an Interactive Virtual Reality Film

3rd Immersive Research Network Conference iLRN · Reyes, M.C.

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2026

Huellas Nº 114–115 · Poemas

Revista Huellas · Universidad del Norte · Barranquilla, Colombia

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2023

AI Creative Writing Anthology · contributor

Leopard Print Publishing · Ed. Geoff Davis · Computer Arts Society / BCS · ISBN B0BZQKV92T

↗ View on Amazon
2020

Lingua Madre Duemilaventi · Granchi azzurri

Edizioni SEB27 / Tamburi di Carta · A cura di Daniela Finocchi · ISBN 978-88-98670-49-9 · Torino

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04

Teaching

Universidad del Norte · Barranquilla

Lab Coordination

uni5lab

Audiovisual Research + Creation Lab

A laboratory at the intersection of moving image, sound, and critical practice, hosting workshops, screenings, and collaborative projects at Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla.

View lab + starred projects ↗

Journalism and New Technologies Master's in Journalism · 2024
Audiovisual Media Production I B.A. Communication · 2023–2026
Audiovisual Media Production III B.A. Communication · 2023–2026
Film Analysis B.A. Communication · 2025
Communication Theory I & II B.A. Communication · 2023
Semiotics & Communication B.A. Communication · 2023
Thesis Project B.A. Communication · 2024
Electronic and New Media Arts Elective · Humanities · 2024–2026
Università di Genova · Italy
Interactive Digital Narrative Master in Creative Writing · 2018–2019
New Media and Museology Master in Creative Writing · 2018–2019
Previous · Workshops & Short Courses
Audiovisual Narratives & New Technologies Scuola Fassicomo, Genova · 2021
Montage Theory Scuola Fassicomo, Genova · 2021
Audiovisual Narratives · Screenplay Writing · Semiotics Escuela Distrital de Artes, Barranquilla · 2014
Who Is Behind the Cameras? Mundo Libre ONLUS / CEPAM, Ecuador · 2012–2013
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Networks & Service

Research Networks & Memberships

  • ARDIN · Board Member · PI, IDN Syllabi Project
  • PBX Research Group · Communication, Culture & Social Change · A1 Colciencias · Uninorte (2023–)
  • Academia Colombiana de Cine · Member, Screenplay Area (2024–)
  • Red de Laboratorios de Iberoamérica (2024–)
  • INDCOR / CA18230 · EU COST Action · Virtual Networking Coordinator (2020–2022)

Editorial & Conference Service

Peer Review · Journals

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Now

Press & Coverage

Feature El legado formativo de María Cecilia Reyes desde la comunicación Uninorte · 2024 ↗ Award Best Full Paper · ICIDS 2023: Decolonizing IDN Pedagogy From and with Global South ITI / ICIDS · Kobe, 2023 ↗ Profile Artist in Residence · Fellow Profile Schloss Solitude · 2021 ↗ Interview My career has always been a negotiation between the artistic path and academia INDCOR / CA18230 · 2022 ↗ Talk Nothing Artificial Here · Text-based AI, Computer Arts Society (BCS) UAL / CAS · London, 2023 ↗ Conference ICIDS 2024 · Program Chair, Barranquilla (first ICIDS in Latin America) ARDIN · Colombia, 2024 ↗

Calendar

Electronic and New Media Arts · Final Exhibition

May 19, 2025 · Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla

07

Contact

For collaborations, speaking invitations, or inquiries about research and teaching. Moving between Europe and Colombia, working globally.

[email protected]