Photo by: Daniela Murillo

Ana María Ariza is an award-winning investigative journalist, photojournalist, documentary filmmaker, focused on human rights, conflict, migration, and Indigenous communities. She tells powerful stories across Latin America and the US, amplifying underrepresented voices and building strong ties with migrants, Indigenous leaders, LGBTIQ+ groups, policymakers, and law enforcement.

Ariza studied T.V. & Radio Production at Miami-Dade College, where her work was nominated for Best Final Project, and earned a Journalism degree from NYU. She also holds photography certifications from Zona Cinco and Los Andes University.

Ana María directed and produced Caminantes: Human Stories That Cross Borders, an award-winning documentary nominated at international film festivals including Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival 2022, McMinnville Short Film Festival 2023, Madrid Film Awards (MADFA) 2023, LA Latinx Film Festival 2023, and winner of Best Editing of a Documentary at the Madrid International Film Festival 2023.

She thrives both on and off camera, collaborating with clients such as Paramount Pictures, MTV, The New York Post, Nike+, Netflix, Discovery Channel, DirecTV, the Colombian and US governments, USAID and the International Organization for Migration.

Throughout her career, Ariza has interviewed renowned figures: John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Catalina Sandino, Mike Newell, Scott Steindorff, Nicolas Cage, Tracy Morgan, Bill Nighy, Zach Galifianakis, Samuel Torres, Chris Botti, Leonardo Amuedo, and Eddy Herrera.