Hola! My name is Ariana, I am a Latinx artist living and working in Wurundjeri land in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia). My art gravitates around different disciplines such as filmmaking, photography, painting and pottery.
I was born and raised in Peru. I studied filmmaking and worked as a film producer in documentaries, advertising, movies, and sitcoms. In 2018, I moved to the United Arab Emirates, where I started directing and taking photos. I shot fashion films for brands such as Nike, Tommy Jeans, Mac Cosmetics, Estée Lauder, Calvin Klein, among others. And, if I was not making fashion videos, I was shooting analog portraits with my Mamiya RZ67.
During the pandemic I had to put the rolls away and, as many others around the globe, I started experimenting with clay at home. When everything re-opened, I went on an artist date with myself at a local pottery studio. I enjoyed getting my hands dirty while making pieces for myself and friends. After a breast cancer scare, I found myself making body positivity pieces that I later started selling through Clay Spell, my brand —and baby.
My pieces were resonating with people all around the world but, unfortunately, after a year of shipping them worldwide, they caught the attention of middle eastern shipping authorities and I had to stop selling them. Luckily, I was about to move again, which meant my dreams were not shattered, but put on hold for a few months, just like my film rolls.
In May 2023, I moved further away from home, to Australia. Having previously lived in two very conservative countries, I am overwhelmed by the number of opportunities this city offers to artists. That is why I am trying to take things slow while I settle in my new art studio, map out future projects and unpack my dusty cameras, old film rolls and mouldy bags of clay.
You can email me at:
arianarodriguezdias@gmail.com
You can also find me at:
Instagram
Awards, nominations & screenings:
”Mujer” (2020) - Independent video art film
Official Selection - Wild Out Festival
Official Selection International Art Film Festival, London
Official Selection Dona i Cinema International Festival, Valencia
“Retukiri Tukiri” (2019) - Bien ou Bien productions & Señor Z
Best Dark Comedy Los Angeles Film Awards
Calcuta International Cult Film Festival Award
Prix du Jury (Short of the Year)
”The Solar System” (2017) - Señor Z & Pontas Films
Spanish Film Festival Australia screening
European Film Market - Berlinale Berlin Film Festival screening
”The Cinephiles” (2013 - 2017) - Señor Z
Official selection at Seoul Webfest 2017
Best script at SWATLS
Best director at SWATLS
Best Web Series at SWATLS
Official selection at BAWEB FEST
Official selection at Los Angeles CineFest
Official selection at Cordoba Film Festival
“The Proposal” (2016) - Señor Z, Circus Grey & ONG Flora Tristán
Shortlist Cannes Lions 2016
Best Director Festival Ojo de Iberoamérica 2016
“Just Like in the Movies” (2015) - Señor Z
Best Feature Studio 35 Cinema Comedy Film Festival
Official Selection Houston Comedy Film Festival
Official Selection Madrid International Film Festival
Official Selection NewFilmmakers Los Angeles
Selección Oficial Pachamama Film Festival
“Trata de mujeres: de Tenancingo a Nueva York” (2014) - Discovery Hispanic & Caracol TV International
Emmy for “Outstanding Investigative Journalism in Spanish”