The Mary Street Jenkins Foundation, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, the Board of Trustees of the Guadalajara International Film Festival, A.C., the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), and the University of Guadalajara Foundation, A.C., are proud to announce Antonia Sofía Silva Alvarado as the winner of the 2026 Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship.
Considered one of Mexico’s most prestigious film scholarships, the Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship aims to foster the development of the national art of filmmaking by promoting the professional development of talented filmmakers at leading academic institutions abroad that are recognized for their leadership in the field of cinema.
The panel tasked with announcing the big news consisted of Guillermo Gómez Mata, president of the FICG Board of Trustees; José Trinidad Padilla López, president of the University of Guadalajara Foundation; Sophie Gordon, representative of the jury for the 2026 Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship; and Alejandra Lerdo de Tejada, director of communications for the Jenkins Foundation.
“This year, the Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship received 136 applications from high school and undergraduate students across Mexico who are interested in studying film abroad. The scholarship offers a unique opportunity to get an in-depth look at emerging talent in our country,” said Sophie Gordon.
“For her ability to foster a dialogue between ancestral culture and modernity, for her deep understanding of animated language in developing diverse techniques using a variety of media, and for the artistic clarity and commitment that lead us to support her future development, we award the Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship to Antonia Sofía Silva Alvarado,” announced the representative of the jury for this academic grant.
Antonia is the seventh recipient of the Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship and hopes to study in the United Kingdom. Previously, this prestigious scholarship has been awarded to:
- María Candelaria Palma Marcelino (Cacahuatepec, Acapulco, Guerrero), for the International Film and Television School in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba.
- Alejandro Ríos Rodríguez (Mexico City), for the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in the Czech Republic.
- Juan Ernesto “Noba” Regalado Morales (Juchitán, Oaxaca), for the School of Film and Audiovisual Arts of the Community of Madrid, in Spain.
- Pablo Díaz de León Hicks (Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes), for the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California in the United States.
- Xóchitl Enríquez Mendoza (Barrio de la Soledad, Oaxaca) for the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School (AFTRS) in Sydney, Australia.
- Carolina Revilla Casillas (Cuernavaca, Morelos), who is currently studying in Barcelona, Spain.
“This scholarship, thanks to the generosity of the Jenkins family, has changed the lives of many young people in Mexico, and we will continue to do so. We believe in the future of filmmaking in the hands of young people, and this is yet another opportunity—a new voice—that we can support. I believe it can transform the language of cinema in our country and throughout Latin America, one person at a time. “Congratulations, Antonia Sofía,” said director Guillermo del Toro in a recorded message.
The Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship has been awarded since 2019 and provides $60,000 USD annually to support undergraduate or graduate studies in film, covering tuition, living expenses, study materials, meals, round-trip airfare from the student’s home city to the chosen institution, and major medical and life insurance.
Captivated by Animation
A native of Mexico City, Antonia studied film at the National School of Cinematic Arts at UNAM, and the project she submitted for the Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship was *El canto del jaguar*, which is set to premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
However, the winner was first introduced to the world of cinema at a very young age, when her mother used to take her to see movies.
“[My mom] says that when she took me to see Steven Spielberg’s E.T., I couldn’t stop crying when the movie ended. As I grew up, I began to learn about other female and male directors, and I also discovered the world of animation,” she shared. “I’ve always been captivated by animated films; I feel like it’s a form of expression that allows you to go in any direction—the freedom is immense.”
Antonia, 28, said she felt “an indescribable thrill” when she found out: “Ever since the first call for entries was announced in 2018, I’d intended to apply; however, at that time, I didn’t have a short film to submit. Now, seven years later, I can say that the wait has been worth it.”
“Having the opportunity to pursue a specialization in film abroad is something many Mexicans dream of but very few can afford. That’s why I’ll always be grateful for this initiative by Guillermo del Toro and the Mary Street Jenkins Foundation, as it provides the boost that many students need to continue growing and have better opportunities in the future,” she added.
He knows he wants to study in the United Kingdom, although he hasn't yet decided on a specific academic institution. For now, he said he has three options in mind, but the top contenders are the Master's in Animation at the Royal College of Art in London and the Master's in Animation Direction at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Buckinghamshire, England.
Finally, he mentioned that he is aware this recognition comes with a great deal of responsibility: “I don’t take it for granted. My goal is to develop an animated feature film project during my master’s program and return to Mexico to share what I’ve learned and do my part for the country’s film industry.”