La Lucha Premiere at Blackstar Film Festival: A Night to Remember

We're honored to announce that our latest film "La Lucha" premiered at the esteemed Blackstar Film Festival in Philadelphia. The excitement in the air was palpable as we prepared for a night that celebrated not just cinema, but the voices and stories of black, brown, and indigenous people from around the world.


A Festival with a ♥️

The Blackstar Film Festival is more than a showcase of films; it's a nurturing community that values diversity, creativity, and empathy. Being part of this festival was a profound experience, aligning perfectly with the themes of "La Lucha."


A Family Affair

I attended the premiere with my daughter Suri, my partner and Producer/ DOP/ Editor Dan Fallshaw, Producer Redelia Shaw, and PR Paola Lambertin. Having them by my side made the night even more special. My friend Akiyo Koyama, a marvelous makeup artist, came and did my makeup, and her partner artist Mike Ming added to the joy of the evening.


Special Guests

The Executive Producer of World Channel, Chris Hastings, attended the premiere, and we're thrilled to announce that "La Lucha" will be broadcasted on World in 2024. We were also honored to have Lauren Pabst, a supporter and friend from the MacArthur Foundation; María Santos from IDA and her sister, the two fellow Quechua warmis (women); Victoria Cheyenne from Niatero; Andrea Lavant, a cultural change maker; Andrea Alarcon from the Sundance Institute; representatives from the Perspective Fund (We have big news coming soon from Perspective); representatives from ITVS; people from the Bolivian community; Mexican Diaspora; and fellow filmmakers. We were able to attend the entire festival thanks to the support from Screen Australia and The Black Star Film Festival.


La Lucha: A Journey for Rights

"La Lucha" follows a caravan of people with disabilities as they cross the Andes in a battle for their civil rights. It's a story of resilience, courage, and the unbreakable human spirit. Here is the website and the trailer.
















La Lucha - Trailer
UNITEDNOTIONS film

Highlights and Reviews

Here are some highlights of the reviews:


"This is a hell of a tale. It’s a magnificent tale about the fight for what is right. I was moved."

Steve Kopian - Unseen Films


"The heroes featured here show the full swath of how a fight like this can both elevate and break down the human spirit, and makes “The Fight” be a title with two meanings; the fight against the system, and the fight to not give up." Juan.J Arroyo - koa.xyz


"Ayala’s films always feel raw and scrappy, but she has a sixth sense for capturing the unreal, not giving any ground when police and protestors begin to push one another outside the palace and observing the memorable sight of Guarita suspended in mid-air in her wheelchair from a bridge, speaking to supporters down below." Stephen Saito - Moveable Fest

The premiere of "La Lucha" at the Blackstar Film Festival was not just the birth of a film; it was a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and storytelling.

The opening night party was superb, brought to life with the cool music of DJlaylo.

Yet, the most beautiful moments were those shared with friends and colleagues, the unspoken connections, the laughs, the camaraderie that only such gatherings can foster.

a group of women posing for a selfie


We left the festival with ❤️♥️♥️ full of gratitude and minds inspired to continue our journey in sharing the film with our communities.


We have many exciting things on the horizon, and we invite you to be part of our journey. Follow La Lucha on Instagram, Facebook, or visit lalucha.red to stay updated.

Hamuq kutikama

The Jaguaress (Violeta. A)

————————•————-•—————•——————

Violeta Ayala Wins XR Innovation 2023 Award at Brain Jam

Games for Change, New York.

In Which We Fly, and Suri Plays


Suri and I, in the sky, but also on a plane. She in her game 🎮, me crashed, long flight ✈️. My BFF Akiyo picked us up at the airport, hugs, 🍜 🍱, and I turned her into an animation ➡️



In Which We Are Colored, Literally


The Color Museum was confetti, silent disco, balls, a pool of balls. We had fun.


In Which We Jam, With Brains


Brain Jam, a gathering, but also a challenge. Seventy-plus creators, organizers, jury members, and us. Rules spoken, but also understood. (I was sooo jet-lagged.)


We were six creators, and we had one question: how to go beyond what we know, what we’ve been told? How to self-represent in ways not written, not drawn, but felt?


In Which We Work, With Aunt Victoria in my ❤️


Aunt Victoria, my aunt but also a guide. A 70-year-old Quechua woman that lives in Tiupampa, understanding the world in her way, our way. Only she can tell her own story. A prototype to give her a tool, to represent her world, her words, her emotions, tangible. It was 27 hours, 6 creators, we created 12 worlds of pure self-representation.

In Which We Struggle, But Also Create

It was hard. Creation without formulas, without patterns. A vertical way of thinking had to turn on its feet, but also a circular, spiral, zigzag way. We took our grandmother’s wisdom as a starting point.





In Which We Win, But Also Learn



An Innovation Award at Brain Jam 2023. A victory, but also a lesson. Not about what we created, but what others can create from it. A tool, but also a gift.



Days later, Brian and I presented our work publicly at Games For Change, Microsoft offices in Downtown NY. I remember the ninja turtle billboards from the window. You can actually experience the project her🤖





In Which We Reflect, But Also Invite


This is a journey with Suri, with Aunt Victoria, with my grandma Herminia, with you. It’s an adventure, but also a dance.

It’s a question, but also an offering.


Join me in this, and let’s imagine a future, a present, a past that’s more than what we see. A world that’s ours, but also everyone’s.