Mariano Aiello

Mariano Aiello is an Argentine film director, producer, screenwriter and lawyer. He is best known for co-directing the documentary film Awka Liwen with German filmmaker and political scientist Kristina Hille. The film was written by Aiello, Hille and Argentine historian and writer Osvaldo Bayer.

La Nación has described Aiello as a filmmaker and lawyer specializing in Indigenous rights.

Awka Liwen

Aiello and Hille directed Awka Liwen (Mapudungun for "Rebel Dawn"), a documentary written with Osvaldo Bayer examining the history of Indigenous dispossession, land ownership and economic inequality in Argentina. It was released theatrically in Argentina in September 2010 and received reviews and extensive coverage in the Argentine press.

In 2012, Awka Liwen had its North American premiere as part of the Latinbeat programme at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York. Aiello attended a screening and discussion in person.

Legal dispute over Awka Liwen

In 2011, descendants of the Martínez de Hoz family brought legal proceedings related to statements and historical material contained in Awka Liwen. The dispute involved Bayer, Aiello and historian Felipe Pigna and received coverage from Argentine media and Reporters Without Borders.

In July 2016, Página/12 reported that Argentina's National Civil Court of Appeals had rejected the claim against the filmmakers and other participants in the documentary.

Martínez de Hoz

Aiello subsequently directed the documentary Martínez de Hoz, which developed out of his research and the legal dispute surrounding Awka Liwen. The film, narrated by Bayer, examines the historical and political role of the Martínez de Hoz family in Argentina.

The documentary was theatrically released in Argentina in 2017. Argentina's public educational television channel Canal Encuentro later included Martínez de Hoz in its documentary programming, crediting Aiello as director.

Later work

In 2025, Aiello co-directed the short documentary Cuero y deforestación (Leather and Deforestation) with Roly Ruiz. The film examines deforestation of red quebracho forests in the Gran Chaco and the production of tannin for the leather industry. It was screened in Berlin during the eighth Refugees Film Festival at Lichtblick-Kino.

Filmography

Awka Liwen (2010) – co-director, co-screenwriter and producer Martínez de Hoz (2017) – director Cuero y deforestación / Leather and Deforestation (2025) – co-director