Alejandra Amarilla’s Life, Career and Marriage to Steve Nash

Alejandra Amarilla is a Paraguayan filmmaker and philanthropist whose professional story took an unusual direction when she began developing a documentary about children living near a landfill in Paraguay. The project became Landfill Harmonic, an internationally recognized film about the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura. Her work on the documentary earned her credits as its founder, executive producer, and story concept creator, giving her a significant role in bringing the orchestra’s story to audiences around the world.

Many people first encounter her name through her former marriage to Steve Nash, the Canadian basketball star and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player. Their separation became a major sports-media story in November 2010, shortly after the birth of their third child. The marriage also led to a notable Arizona Court of Appeals decision in 2013 concerning child support in wealthy families. Here is a closer look at Amarilla’s background, filmmaking career, humanitarian interests, family, and the legal developments that brought her into the headlines.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Paraguayan Background

Alejandra Amarilla was born in Asunción, Paraguay, and her connection to the country became one of the strongest influences on her professional work. Her interest in filmmaking was closely connected to a desire to introduce international audiences to Paraguay and the social challenges affecting its communities. She wanted to create something that could encourage people to learn about the country rather than view it through limited international coverage.

In a 2016 interview with Eye for Film, Amarilla explained that she wanted to find a way to make Paraguay better known because many people she encountered did not know much about the country. She initially considered producing a documentary about Paraguay’s wider social issues before discovering the story that eventually became Landfill Harmonic. Her own explanation provides a much clearer picture of her motivation than a general description of her as a celebrity’s former spouse.

Education and Her First Experience in Filmmaking

Amarilla’s entry into documentary production did not follow a conventional film-school route. In an interview with Paraguay’s ABC Color, she explained that although she had always been fascinated by cinema, she did not have the opportunity to study cinematography when she was younger. This detail helps explain why her professional filmmaking experience developed through practical projects and collaboration rather than a traditional academic film career.

Her first significant film experience came in 2007, when a friend began working on a documentary about the power of creativity for Free Arts of Arizona. Amarilla joined the initiative to support the organization and help raise funds for its activities. The resulting short documentary, Unleashing Creativity, explored how artistic expression could help children facing abuse, homelessness, and other difficult circumstances. She co-directed the project, which introduced her to the practical and creative sides of documentary filmmaking.

How the Landfill Harmonic Project Began

The idea for Landfill Harmonic developed in 2008, when Amarilla contacted filmmaker Juliana Peñaranda-Loftus to discuss making a documentary about underserved children in Paraguay. Amarilla wanted a project that could draw attention to her home country and encourage support for meaningful social initiatives. Peñaranda-Loftus brought filmmaking and production experience to the collaboration, making her an important creative partner from the beginning.

In 2009, the two women traveled to Paraguay to investigate possible documentary subjects. During their research, they heard about Favio Chávez, a music teacher and environmental technician who was teaching children in Cateura to play instruments made from discarded materials. Amarilla asked to meet him, and the following day they saw the instruments and the music program. In her Eye for Film interview, she described the discovery as fascinating because so few people knew about the work taking place there. They decided that the orchestra’s story deserved a documentary.

Alejandra Amarilla’s Role in Landfill Harmonic

Amarilla’s contribution to the documentary was substantial and involved more than appearing in the production credits. The official film website identifies her as the founder, executive producer, and story concept creator. In a 2016 interview with ABC Color, she explained that her responsibilities included finding financing and supervising the film’s creation. She also said that she personally financed the project during its early stages.

Her creative involvement continued throughout production. Amarilla wanted the documentary to present Paraguay authentically, with attention to the country’s culture and the experiences of the people featured. She explained that she was involved in every stage, particularly the creative decisions. Her comments show that her role combined original concept development, financial support, production supervision, and an effort to protect the story’s cultural perspective.

The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura and Its Story

The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura developed in a community near the landfill serving Asunción, where many families depended on recovering reusable materials. Favio Chávez established a music program for local children, while landfill worker and instrument maker Nicolás “Colá” Gómez helped construct playable instruments from discarded objects. These creations included violins, cellos, and other orchestral instruments made from materials that would otherwise have been thrown away.

The orchestra’s story was not simply about unusual musical instruments. It showed how children could gain access to music education, develop confidence, and participate in performances beyond their neighborhood. The musicians eventually performed internationally and shared stages with well-known artists, including members of Megadeth. The documentary followed their development and the challenges facing their community, presenting Cateura as a place of creativity and determination rather than defining its residents only through poverty.

Production Challenges and the Six-Year Filmmaking Journey

Making Landfill Harmonic required a long production period. The official documentary history traces the project from Amarilla and Peñaranda-Loftus’s initial discussions in 2008 to its completion in 2015. The filmmakers returned to Paraguay several times, followed the young musicians, and developed the documentary around their experiences. The production team expanded as the project progressed, with Rodolfo Madero joining as an executive producer in 2012 and Brad Allgood later contributing as editor and director.

One of the most significant developments occurred in June 2014, when flooding affected the Cateura community. Although the filmmakers had already completed much of the production, the disaster led them to reopen filming and document the situation. Amarilla discussed this decision in her Eye for Film interview, explaining that the event was toxic and that the team wanted to capture the devastation accurately. The flood became an important part of the documentary’s final act, connecting the orchestra’s story to environmental conditions and community resilience.

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Awards and International Recognition

Landfill Harmonic reached international audiences in 2015 and received several festival honors. Its achievements included the Audience Award in the 24 Beats Per Second category at SXSW and the World Cinema Audience Award at AFI FEST. The film also received recognition from the Humanitas Prize, Children’s Film Festival Seattle, and Cinetopia. These awards belong to the documentary and its production, rather than being individual acting or directing awards for Amarilla.

The festival success helped bring greater attention to the Recycled Orchestra and the children of Cateura. The project’s earlier online teaser had already helped generate interest and opened opportunities for grants and international invitations. As Peñaranda-Loftus explained in the Eye for Film interview, releasing the teaser in 2012 helped the team secure support to continue production, while the children began receiving invitations to perform abroad. The documentary therefore became an important channel for sharing the orchestra’s work with a much wider audience.

Humanitarian Work and Social Causes

Amarilla’s interest in social causes existed before the documentary became internationally recognized. In 2008, she traveled to Uganda with Athletes for Africa, supporting initiatives involving former child soldiers and families living in displacement camps. The work included educational and therapeutic programs for former child soldiers, alongside assistance covering basic necessities for displaced families. This experience strengthened her interest in projects that could connect public awareness with practical community support.

She has also supported the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund, an organization focused on improving opportunities for underserved women through economic, social, and political programs. Her work with Free Arts of Arizona further demonstrates her interest in using creative activities to support children experiencing difficult circumstances. Across these projects, a common theme is the use of education, artistic expression, and community initiatives to improve people’s opportunities.

Alejandra Amarilla’s Marriage to Steve Nash

Alejandra Amarilla’s relationship with Steve Nash brought her name into international sports coverage. Nash is a Canadian former professional basketball player who won the NBA Most Valuable Player award twice and became particularly associated with the Phoenix Suns. Their relationship developed before their 2005 marriage, and the couple had already welcomed twin daughters in 2004.

Their family life unfolded alongside Nash’s demanding basketball career. As one of the NBA’s most prominent point guards, he spent much of his professional life traveling and competing at the highest level. Amarilla, meanwhile, developed her interests in filmmaking and humanitarian projects. Their marriage eventually became the subject of significant media attention when Nash announced their separation in November 2010.

Children and Family Life

Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash have three children together. Their twin daughters, Lola and Bella Nash, were born in 2004, while their son, Matteo Nash, was born in November 2010. At the time of their separation announcement, the twins were six years old and Matteo was a newborn. These family details became central to the media coverage surrounding the couple’s marriage.

Nash’s public statement emphasized that both parents remained committed to raising their children in a positive and nurturing environment. The Arizona court proceedings that followed also addressed parenting arrangements, child-related expenses, and the financial responsibilities of both parents. Although the family’s legal matters attracted public interest, the children themselves have largely remained outside the spotlight of their parents’ professional coverage.

Steve Nash and Alejandra Amarilla’s Separation

On November 13, 2010, Steve Nash announced that he and Amarilla were in the process of dissolving their marriage. The statement came shortly after the birth of their son Matteo, which made the announcement a major sports-media story. News organizations including the Associated Press and UPI reported that Nash said the couple had been living separately for several months before making the announcement.

Nash described the situation as a bittersweet moment and said that he wanted good things for Amarilla going forward. He also stressed their shared responsibility for raising their children. The timing attracted widespread attention, but the public statement did not provide a detailed explanation of the personal reasons behind the separation. The distinction matters because the announcement established the timeline, while speculation about private marital circumstances should not be treated as established fact.

The Nash v. Nash Court Case and Child Support Dispute

The legal proceedings following the separation became one of the most significant publicly documented parts of Amarilla’s story. In July 2013, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued its decision in In re the Marriage of Stephen John Nash, commonly referred to as Nash v. Nash. The case concerned child support following the dissolution of a marriage involving two parents with considerable financial resources. Amarilla appealed parts of the lower court’s orders, including the calculation of child support.

The appellate court ruled that the lower court had not properly applied Arizona’s child-support guidelines. It explained that support in a high-income family should consider the reasonable benefits children enjoyed during their parents’ marriage, rather than focusing only on basic necessities. The court vacated the child-support portion of the decree and sent the issue back for further proceedings. It did not simply declare that Nash owed no child support; instead, it required a more complete calculation under the applicable guidelines.

The Social Media Ruling and Privacy Dispute

The 2013 appeal also addressed two separate issues involving public comments and court records. The parents’ joint custody agreement required respectful communication and prohibited disparaging the other parent to the children. After a negative comment about Nash appeared on Amarilla’s Twitter account, the family court adopted a restriction against disparaging social-media posts. The Arizona Court of Appeals upheld that restriction, reasoning that public online comments could reach the children and affect their relationship with their parents.

The appellate judges also considered a separate order that broadly prevented the parties from sharing documents or information from the court proceedings. They vacated that restriction because it was too broad and interfered with protected speech about a public legal proceeding. These decisions are important because they show that the appeal covered more than financial support: it also addressed the balance between parental responsibilities, children’s welfare, and freedom of expression.

Life After the Divorce and Professional Interests

Following the separation, Amarilla’s documented professional work remained closely connected to documentary filmmaking and social causes. Landfill Harmonic continued to be the most prominent project associated with her name, particularly because its development involved several years of research, fundraising, filming, and creative supervision. Her interviews about the film also provide a record of her perspective on Paraguay, the Cateura community, and the importance of telling stories with cultural authenticity.

A 2016 interview with ABC Color offered another glimpse into her plans. Amarilla discussed an early-stage feature-film project based on the orchestra’s story, which was expected to use a screenplay and professional actors. She said producer Rodolfo Madero was leading that development and that she would participate in a less intensive role. She also mentioned having another Paraguay-related story in mind that she hoped to make into a film in the future.

Where Is Alejandra Amarilla Now? Recent Film Developments

A significant later development appeared in Screen Daily on February 13, 2024. The trade publication reported that a feature-film adaptation titled Landfillharmonic was in development at Another Brainy Idea, the production company established by former Brainstorm Media chief Meyer Shwarzstein. The planned feature was based on the 2015 documentary and was set to focus on the teacher leading children who play instruments made from landfill materials.

The report named Alejandra Amarilla among the feature film’s executive producers, alongside Rick Berg and Jonathan Dana. Rodolfo Madero was also listed among the producers, while José Rivera was attached as screenwriter and Marcos Bernstein as director. This announcement is a meaningful later entry in her professional record because it shows that the Cateura story continued to attract film-industry interest years after the original documentary’s release.

Interesting Facts About Alejandra Amarilla

• Born in Paraguay: Amarilla comes from Asunción and has described introducing her home country to international audiences as an important motivation behind her documentary work.
• No formal cinematography studies: She explained to ABC Color that she loved cinema but did not have the opportunity to study filmmaking when she was younger.
• Personally helped finance Landfill Harmonic: In her 2016 interview, she said she began the documentary project with personal funding and supervised its creative development.
• The documentary took six years: The project began in 2008 and was completed in 2015, with the 2014 flood becoming an important part of the finished film.
• The story continued into a feature-film project: In 2024, Screen Daily reported that Amarilla was attached as an executive producer to a feature adaptation titled Landfillharmonic.

Conclusion

Alejandra Amarilla’s public story includes much more than her former marriage to Steve Nash. Her work on Landfill Harmonic demonstrates how an original documentary idea, personal financial commitment, and long-term creative collaboration helped bring the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura to international attention. Her earlier involvement with Free Arts of Arizona and humanitarian initiatives in Uganda also reflects a sustained interest in education, children, and community development.

Her family life and the 2013 Arizona court decision remain important parts of her public biography, especially for readers interested in the legal dispute following her separation from Nash. Yet her filmmaking record provides a separate and substantial part of her story. The 2024 announcement of a feature adaptation further demonstrates the continuing interest in the project she helped originate.

FAQs

1. Who is Alejandra Amarilla?

Alejandra Amarilla is a Paraguayan filmmaker and documentary producer, best known as the founder and executive producer of Landfill Harmonic.

2. How many children does Alejandra Amarilla have?

She shares three children with Steve Nash: twin daughters Lola and Bella, born in 2004, and their son Matteo, born in November 2010.

3. Why did Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash separate?

Nash announced their separation in November 2010, explaining that they had lived separately for several months. He did not disclose private reasons.

4. What is Alejandra Amarilla famous for?

She is best known for originating and executive producing Landfill Harmonic, the 2015 documentary about Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra of Cateura.

5. What happened in the Nash v. Nash case?

In 2013, Arizona’s Court of Appeals vacated the child-support ruling and ordered further proceedings under guidelines considering the children’s reasonable lifestyle.

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