Alejandra Amarilla: The Inspiring Story of a Paraguayan Filmmaker, Philanthropist, and Steve Nash’s Former Wife
When people search for Alejandra Amarilla, they often want to know about her connection to former NBA superstar Steve Nash. However, her life story extends well beyond her former marriage. She is a Paraguayan-born filmmaker, documentary producer, and philanthropically minded individual whose work has helped bring an extraordinary story from Paraguay to international audiences.
One of the most important projects associated with her is Landfill Harmonic, a documentary about a group of young musicians who create and perform music using instruments made from discarded materials. The project brought attention to the power of creativity, education, and community determination.
Although her connection to a famous basketball player has attracted public curiosity, Amarilla has developed a separate identity through social-impact storytelling and documentary filmmaking. She has also maintained a relatively private personal life, making verified information about some aspects of her background difficult to find.
This biography explores Alejandra Amarilla’s Paraguayan roots, professional journey, documentary work, relationship with Steve Nash, family life, and the reasons her story continues to attract attention.
Alejandra Amarilla: Quick Biography
Here is a summary of the publicly documented information about Alejandra Amarilla.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alejandra Amarilla |
| Birthplace | Asunción, Paraguay |
| National background | Paraguayan |
| Profession | Filmmaker and documentary producer |
| Known for | Landfill Harmonic |
| Other film project | Unleashing Creativity |
| Notable role | Founder and executive producer of Landfill Harmonic |
| Former husband | Steve Nash |
| Children | Three |
| Twin daughters | Lola and Bella |
| Son | Matteo |
| Known interests | Filmmaking, philanthropy, and community causes |
| Public profile | Relatively private |
Note: Her exact birth date, confirmed age, and personal net worth are not established by sufficiently reliable public sources. These details should not be treated as verified facts.
Who Is Alejandra Amarilla?
Alejandra Amarilla is a Paraguayan-born filmmaker and producer recognized for her involvement in documentary projects connected to children, creativity, and social causes.
She became particularly well known through Landfill Harmonic, a documentary that introduced international audiences to the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura in Paraguay. The film follows young people who use musical instruments constructed from recycled materials, demonstrating how creativity can flourish even when resources are limited.
Her involvement in the project was significant. She helped develop its original concept, supported its production, and worked to bring the story to a wider audience.
The DC Environmental Film Festival identifies her as a producer and highlights her commitment to philanthropy and community service. Its filmmaker profile also connects her earlier work with Free Arts of Arizona and her interest in supporting children in Paraguay.
Amarilla is also recognized publicly because of her former marriage to Steve Nash. Nash built an internationally recognized basketball career, but Amarilla’s professional work represents a different part of her public identity.
Understanding her biography therefore requires looking at both her personal background and the documentary projects that established her professional reputation.
Early Life and Background in Paraguay
Growing Up in Asunción
Alejandra Amarilla was born in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, a country in South America known for its distinctive cultural traditions, music, and strong community connections.
Although she has become known internationally through her filmmaking and personal connections, she has not shared extensive details about her childhood. Information about her parents, siblings, schooling, and early family experiences is limited in established public records.
Rather than relying on unverified online biographies, it is more accurate to focus on what Amarilla has discussed publicly: her connection to Paraguay and her desire to introduce its people, culture, and challenges to audiences outside the country.
That connection eventually became central to her most recognized documentary project.
Her Connection to Paraguayan Culture
Amarilla’s attachment to Paraguay is more than a biographical detail. It has influenced the subjects she has chosen to support and the stories she has wanted to tell.
In a 2016 interview with Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color, she explained that she wanted to make her country better known internationally and encourage people to contribute to meaningful social projects.
She had noticed that many people she encountered outside Paraguay knew very little about the country. She began looking for an opportunity to change that perception through storytelling.
This motivation helps explain why she became interested in the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura. Its story represented an opportunity to introduce an international audience to a community that might otherwise receive little attention.
How Alejandra Amarilla Became Interested in Filmmaking
Alejandra Amarilla’s professional journey is closely connected to her interest in social causes and the ability of creative projects to make a difference.
She did not become widely recognized through traditional entertainment filmmaking. Instead, her work developed around documentaries that explored real people, community experiences, and opportunities for positive change.
Her approach brought together several interests:
- Documentary storytelling.
- Children’s education and development.
- Community service.
- Creative expression.
- Social awareness.
- Philanthropic activities.
For Amarilla, filmmaking offered a way to communicate experiences that deserved greater public attention.
Learning Through Experience
There is limited verified information about Amarilla’s formal education or whether she completed a specific filmmaking degree. However, her public comments and professional credits provide a clearer picture of how she entered the industry.
In her interview with ABC Color, she discussed her responsibilities as an executive producer and explained that she had taken an active role in developing and financing her documentary project.
She also emphasized the importance of understanding Paraguayan culture when presenting a story about her home country.
Her experience illustrates that documentary filmmaking involves more than operating cameras or directing scenes. It requires research, communication, financial planning, collaboration, and an understanding of the people whose lives are being documented.
An Interest in Social Impact
Amarilla’s involvement in philanthropy developed before Landfill Harmonic became internationally recognized.
The official documentary website describes her involvement with several social initiatives, including programs supporting former child soldiers and displaced families in Uganda.
Her work also included support for the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund, an organization focused on creating opportunities for underserved women through economic, social, and political programs.
These activities demonstrate a recurring interest in supporting people and communities facing difficult circumstances.
Rather than limiting her attention to one country or one issue, she became involved in projects that connected education, opportunity, creativity, and community development.
Unleashing Creativity: One of Her Earlier Film Projects
Before Landfill Harmonic, Alejandra Amarilla was involved in another documentary project called Unleashing Creativity.
The short film was associated with Free Arts of Arizona, an organization that uses artistic activities to support children and young people.
Amarilla co-directed the project, which explored the positive and healing role that creativity and the arts can play in people’s lives.
This project is important because it provides an earlier example of the themes that would later appear in her better-known work.
Why Unleashing Creativity Matters
Creative activities can give children ways to express feelings, develop confidence, and communicate experiences that may be difficult to explain through ordinary conversation.
Art, music, drawing, and other activities can also encourage cooperation and help young people discover their abilities.
The subject of Unleashing Creativity therefore connected naturally with Amarilla’s interest in children and social development.
Although the short documentary did not receive the same level of international attention as Landfill Harmonic, it helped establish her interest in using film to explore meaningful social issues.
The DC Environmental Film Festival also references this earlier project in its filmmaker profile, identifying Amarilla as a co-director.
Landfill Harmonic: The Documentary That Defined Her Career
Landfill Harmonic is the project most closely associated with Alejandra Amarilla.
Released in 2015, the documentary tells the story of the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a musical group in Paraguay whose members perform using instruments made from discarded materials.
The film offers a powerful look at how music, education, and determination can create opportunities in a community facing significant economic and environmental challenges.
Its story attracted international attention because it showed something unexpected: instruments that might appear worthless to others could become tools for musical expression.
How the Project Started
The documentary’s development began in 2008.
According to the official Landfill Harmonic production history, Amarilla approached filmmaker and producer Juliana Peñaranda-Loftus with the idea of developing a documentary about underserved children in Paraguay.
The two women traveled to Paraguay in 2009 to research possible stories.
During that trip, they learned about the work of Favio Chávez, a music educator who was helping children in the Cateura community learn music using instruments made from recycled materials.
The story immediately attracted Amarilla’s interest.
In her ABC Color interview, she explained that after learning about Chávez’s work, she asked to meet him. Following that visit, she decided that this was the story she wanted to film.
This decision became the starting point of a much larger documentary production.
Discovering the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura
Cateura is a community located near a major landfill in Asunción, Paraguay.
Many families in the area have faced difficult economic circumstances, and the surrounding environment has presented substantial challenges.
Within this setting, Favio Chávez developed a music education initiative that gave children an opportunity to learn musical instruments.
However, purchasing conventional instruments was difficult because of limited financial resources.
The solution was remarkably creative.
Discarded materials were transformed into usable musical instruments. Metal containers, wooden pieces, and other recovered objects became components of violins, cellos, guitars, and other instruments.
The resulting orchestra became known as the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura.
Its members demonstrated that musical ability does not depend entirely on expensive equipment. With guidance, determination, and imagination, young people could develop musical skills using materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
Alejandra Amarilla’s Role in the Documentary
It is important to describe Amarilla’s professional contribution accurately.
She was not the documentary’s principal director. The official film credits identify her as:
- Founder.
- Executive producer.
- Story concept creator.
She helped establish the original idea, develop the project’s direction, secure financial support, and supervise important parts of its production.
Juliana Peñaranda-Loftus served as producer and co-director, while Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley received directing credits.
Amarilla also explained in her ABC Color interview that she initially financed the project personally and remained involved in the creative process.
She wanted the film to represent Paraguay authentically rather than offer an incomplete outside perspective.
Her contribution was therefore important to both the development and the identity of the documentary.
A Six-Year Production Journey
One interesting detail about Landfill Harmonic is that it took approximately six years to complete.
The production history published on the documentary’s official website provides a useful timeline.
| Year | Important development |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Amarilla approached Juliana Peñaranda-Loftus about a documentary on underserved children in Paraguay. |
| 2009 | The filmmakers traveled to Paraguay and discovered the Recycled Orchestra story. |
| 2010 | Filming began with Favio Chávez and the orchestra. |
| 2011 | The filmmakers followed children who became central characters in the documentary. |
| 2012 | A film teaser attracted widespread attention online. |
| 2013 | Brad Allgood joined the project as editor. |
| 2014 | Production reopened following major developments affecting the community. |
| 2015 | The documentary received its release and reached festival audiences. |
Landfill Harmonic+1
This extended production period allowed the filmmakers to follow the orchestra as its circumstances changed.
It also meant that the documentary could explore more than a single performance or a brief moment of success. It could show the development of the children, the orchestra, and the community over time.
Why the Film Attracted International Attention
The documentary connected with audiences because it presented a story that was both unusual and deeply relatable.
Music is understood across languages and cultures. The orchestra’s performances showed how young people could develop talent and confidence despite having limited access to traditional resources.
The film also raised questions about waste, recycling, inequality, and the importance of educational opportunities.
Its international attention helped introduce the musicians of Cateura to people who might never otherwise have heard about their community.
According to The Film Collaborative, Landfill Harmonic received audience recognition at SXSW and AFI FEST, among other festival honors. thefilmcollaborative.org
For Amarilla, this recognition also represented an opportunity to fulfill part of her original goal: bringing greater awareness to Paraguay and its people.
The Importance of Music, Education, and Creativity in Her Work
One reason Alejandra Amarilla’s documentary work stands out is its focus on practical human experiences rather than abstract messages.
Both Unleashing Creativity and Landfill Harmonic explore the relationship between creative expression and personal development.
These projects suggest several important ideas.
Creativity Can Exist Without Expensive Resources
The Recycled Orchestra provides an example of how resource limitations do not necessarily eliminate creative possibilities.
The children did not have access to a large collection of expensive musical instruments. Instead, the orchestra developed a distinctive approach using recovered materials.
Their achievements challenged the assumption that meaningful artistic experiences require expensive facilities or equipment.
Education Can Create Opportunities
Music education gave the children of Cateura an opportunity to learn, practice, and work together.
Being part of an orchestra also required discipline, patience, and cooperation.
These experiences can be valuable beyond music itself. They can help children develop skills that support their confidence and participation in wider society.
Community Stories Deserve International Attention
Amarilla’s documentary work also demonstrates why local stories matter.
Communities that receive limited international media coverage can still have remarkable achievements, talented individuals, and experiences worth sharing.
By supporting a documentary about Cateura, Amarilla helped make a local Paraguayan story accessible to audiences around the world.
This is one of the strongest themes connecting her background with her professional achievements.
Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash: Their Relationship
Another major reason people search for Alejandra Amarilla is her former marriage to Steve Nash.
Nash is a Canadian former professional basketball player widely recognized for his achievements in the NBA. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player award twice and became one of the most respected point guards of his generation.
Their relationship brought Amarilla into the public spotlight, particularly during Nash’s successful basketball career.
How Did Alejandra Amarilla Meet Steve Nash?
Amarilla and Nash reportedly met in New York City in 2001.
Their relationship developed over the following years, and they eventually started a family together.
Although Nash was already an internationally recognized athlete, Amarilla maintained interests and professional activities outside basketball.
Their relationship attracted media attention because of Nash’s celebrity status, but the couple generally kept much of their private life away from public discussion.
When Did Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash Get Married?
Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash married in June 2005.
By that time, they already had twin daughters, who were born in October 2004.
Their marriage connected two people with different professional backgrounds. Nash was building his reputation in professional basketball, while Amarilla was developing her interests in filmmaking, family life, and philanthropy.
The couple subsequently welcomed another child, making their family five members.
Why Did Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash Divorce?
In November 2010, Steve Nash publicly announced that he and Amarilla were ending their marriage.
The announcement came shortly after the birth of their son, Matteo. Nash also explained publicly that they had been living separately for several months.
Their divorce was finalized in late 2011, according to reporting by the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times. Deseret News+1
The announcement attracted considerable media attention because of its timing and Nash’s status as a prominent NBA player.
However, it is important to distinguish between publicly documented events and speculation about the private reasons behind a relationship ending.
Neither person needs to have their private experiences turned into an unverified story. The confirmed information establishes their separation and subsequent divorce, but it does not justify presenting rumors about the personal circumstances as facts.
Alejandra Amarilla’s Children and Family Life
Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash have three children together.
Their family includes twin daughters and a son.
Although their parents have been associated with public careers, the children have largely remained outside the kind of continuous media attention experienced by celebrity families.
Lola and Bella Nash
Amarilla and Nash welcomed twin daughters in October 2004.
Their daughters are commonly identified as Lola and Bella.
The twins were born before their parents married in June 2005.
During Nash’s basketball career, he occasionally discussed the importance of family, but both parents have generally maintained boundaries around their children’s private lives.
As of November 2026, the twins are 22 years old.
Matteo Nash
The couple’s third child is their son Matteo Nash, who was born in November 2010.
His birth received public attention because Nash announced the couple’s separation around the same time.
Despite the public interest, the family’s private circumstances deserve respect.
As of November 2026, Matteo is 16 years old.
A Family Beyond the Marriage
Divorce does not remove the importance of parenting responsibilities.
In his public statement announcing the separation, Nash emphasized that both parents remained committed to raising their children in a positive and supportive environment.
Later reporting documented a child-custody dispute and a subsequent settlement in Arizona in 2013. The court ordered the settlement sealed. Los Angeles Times+1
These developments explain some of the media attention surrounding the family, but they do not provide a reason to speculate about private family arrangements.
For readers researching Alejandra Amarilla, the most relevant confirmed information is that she and Nash share three children and that their marriage ended in 2011.
Alejandra Amarilla’s Philanthropic Activities
Philanthropy is another important part of Alejandra Amarilla’s public biography.
Her interest in social causes appears in both her earlier activities and her documentary projects.
She has supported initiatives connected to children, women, education, and vulnerable communities.
Her involvement suggests that she sees creative work as one possible way to encourage broader social awareness.
Work Connected to Uganda
One of the projects mentioned in her official film biography involved a 2008 trip to Uganda with Athletes for Africa.
The initiative supported programs offering education and therapy to former child soldiers, alongside assistance for families living in displacement camps.
This experience appears to have influenced her interest in humanitarian activities.
It also expanded her understanding of the challenges facing children in different parts of the world.
Although Uganda and Paraguay have different histories and social circumstances, both experiences contributed to the broader themes of her work: opportunity, education, and the importance of supporting vulnerable communities.
Support for Women’s Global Empowerment Fund
Amarilla has also been associated with the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund.
The organization focuses on supporting underserved women through programs designed to improve economic opportunities and social participation.
Its mission connects with a broader issue: communities often need more than temporary assistance. They need access to resources, education, and opportunities that allow individuals to build more independent futures.
Her support for this organization provides another example of her interest in initiatives beyond filmmaking.
Using Film to Encourage Social Awareness
Perhaps her most visible contribution to social causes has been her involvement in documentary production.
A documentary can bring attention to issues that might otherwise remain overlooked.
It can introduce audiences to people whose experiences are rarely represented in mainstream entertainment and help viewers understand the circumstances behind a particular social challenge.
Landfill Harmonic achieved this by introducing the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura to international audiences.
The film did not simply focus on difficult living conditions. It also showed the musicians’ talents, ambitions, and achievements.
That balance between acknowledging hardship and recognizing human potential is an important part of the documentary’s appeal.
What Is Alejandra Amarilla Doing Now?
One of the most common questions about Alejandra Amarilla concerns her current life.
People who discover her through Steve Nash often want to know whether she has remarried, where she lives, and whether she continues working in film.
However, reliable recent information about her day-to-day activities is limited.
Her public professional identity remains strongly connected to Landfill Harmonic, her earlier documentary work, and her interest in social causes.
There is not enough dependable, recent public evidence to identify a new major film release or describe a detailed current professional schedule.
Does She Still Work in Filmmaking?
Her documented film credits include Unleashing Creativity and Landfill Harmonic.
The latter remains her most recognizable project.
The fact that a person has fewer public appearances or film announcements does not necessarily mean that they have stopped working. It simply means that there is insufficient public information to describe their current activities with certainty.
It is therefore better to avoid inventing new film projects or presenting old plans as completed productions.
Where Does Alejandra Amarilla Live?
Some online profiles have associated Amarilla with California, United States.
However, older professional profiles do not establish her exact present-day residence.
A current city or home address should not be presented as a confirmed fact without reliable, recent evidence.
Her preference for keeping a low public profile makes it especially important to respect the distinction between publicly available professional information and private personal details.
Is Alejandra Amarilla Active on Social Media?
There is no widely established, verified public social media profile that can confidently be attributed to her from the sources used for this biography.
People with the same name may have accounts on Instagram, Facebook, or other platforms.
A matching name alone does not prove that an account belongs to the filmmaker.
For that reason, readers should be careful when following accounts claiming to represent her.
Alejandra Amarilla’s Net Worth and Financial Background
Alejandra Amarilla’s net worth is another frequently searched topic.
However, there is no sufficiently reliable public financial disclosure establishing her personal wealth.
Various entertainment and biography websites sometimes publish estimated figures, but such numbers often lack transparent financial documentation.
It is important to distinguish between personal wealth and the finances of a former spouse.
Steve Nash enjoyed a successful professional basketball career, but his earnings should not automatically be attributed to Amarilla.
Her work as a documentary producer and involvement in philanthropic projects also do not provide enough information to calculate her personal financial position.
A responsible biography should therefore avoid assigning her an invented net worth.
What can be established: Amarilla has participated in documentary production, executive producing, and social initiatives. Her precise personal income, assets, investments, and net worth are not publicly verified.
Interesting Facts About Alejandra Amarilla
Here are some useful facts that help explain her background and professional journey.
- She was born in Paraguay: Her birthplace is identified as Asunción by the DC Environmental Film Festival.
- She has a connection to documentary filmmaking: Her best-known professional work is Landfill Harmonic.
- She helped create an internationally recognized documentary: Her involvement began with the original concept.
- She worked with Juliana Peñaranda-Loftus: The two collaborated during the early research and development of Landfill Harmonic.
- She supported children’s causes: Her earlier projects included Unleashing Creativity.
- She has been involved in international philanthropy: Her public biography mentions activities connected to Uganda.
- She supported women’s empowerment initiatives: The Women’s Global Empowerment Fund is among the causes associated with her.
- She was married to Steve Nash: Their marriage took place in June 2005.
- She has three children: Her family includes twin daughters and a son.
- Her most recognized documentary took six years to make: The production of Landfill Harmonic began in 2008 and continued through 2014 before its 2015 release.
These details provide a more complete understanding of Alejandra Amarilla than focusing exclusively on her former marriage.
Why Alejandra Amarilla’s Story Continues to Attract Interest
There are several reasons why interest in Alejandra Amarilla has continued.
First, her connection to Steve Nash naturally attracts people interested in professional basketball and celebrity relationships.
Second, her documentary work gives her an independent professional identity.
Third, Landfill Harmonic remains an appealing story because it combines music, education, environmental awareness, and community resilience.
Her biography also illustrates how people can contribute to public life without constantly seeking media attention.
Unlike celebrities whose careers depend on frequent public appearances, Amarilla’s documented work is connected to projects that focus on other people and their experiences.
That is an important distinction.
The musicians of Cateura are the central subjects of Landfill Harmonic. Favio Chávez’s educational initiative is also fundamental to the story. Amarilla’s contribution was to help recognize the potential of that story and bring it into a documentary that audiences around the world could experience.
Her role should be appreciated without taking attention away from the community and musicians whose achievements made the film meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alejandra Amarilla
1. Who is Alejandra Amarilla?
Alejandra Amarilla is a Paraguayan-born filmmaker, documentary producer, and philanthropically minded individual. She is best known for helping develop and executive-produce Landfill Harmonic, a documentary about the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura in Paraguay. She is also known as the former wife of NBA star Steve Nash.
2. Where was Alejandra Amarilla born?
Alejandra Amarilla was born in Asunción, Paraguay. Her connection to her home country influenced her interest in documentary filmmaking and social causes, particularly projects involving children and underserved communities.
3. How old is Alejandra Amarilla?
Her exact date of birth and age have not been reliably confirmed by authoritative public sources. Some online biographies publish estimated birth years, but those claims should not be treated as established facts.
4. Was Alejandra Amarilla married to Steve Nash?
Yes. Alejandra Amarilla married former NBA basketball player Steve Nash in June 2005. They had three children together and divorced in late 2011.
5. How many children does Alejandra Amarilla have?
Alejandra Amarilla and Steve Nash have three children: twin daughters Lola and Bella, born in October 2004, and their son Matteo, born in November 2010.
6. What is Alejandra Amarilla famous for?
She is best known for her work on Landfill Harmonic. The documentary explores the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, whose young musicians perform using instruments constructed from recycled materials.
7. What was Alejandra Amarilla’s role in Landfill Harmonic?
She was the founder, executive producer, and story concept creator. She helped develop the documentary’s original idea, secure financing, supervise production, and maintain its creative vision. She was not its principal director.
8. What is Unleashing Creativity?
Unleashing Creativity is an earlier short documentary associated with Free Arts of Arizona. Amarilla co-directed the film, which explored the healing and developmental value of creative activities and the arts.
9. What is Alejandra Amarilla’s net worth?
Her personal net worth has not been established through reliable public financial information. Online estimates should be treated cautiously because they do not provide verified details about her assets or income.
10. Is Alejandra Amarilla still married to Steve Nash?
No. Their marriage ended in divorce in late 2011. Steve Nash later married former volleyball player Lilla Frederick in 2016. There is no sufficiently reliable public information establishing Amarilla’s current marital status.
11. What is Alejandra Amarilla doing today?
Her public professional profile remains associated with documentary filmmaking and social-impact projects, particularly Landfill Harmonic. However, detailed information about her current professional schedule and private life is limited.
12. Why is Landfill Harmonic important to her biography?
The documentary represents her most significant publicly documented creative achievement. It connected her interest in Paraguayan culture and social causes with an international filmmaking project that introduced the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura to audiences worldwide.
Conclusion
Alejandra Amarilla’s story is more than a biography of someone connected to a famous basketball player. Although her former marriage to Steve Nash has generated considerable public interest, her documentary work and commitment to social causes provide a much broader understanding of her life.
Born in Asunción, Paraguay, she developed an interest in using creative projects to highlight important human experiences. Her involvement in Unleashing Creativity and, most notably, Landfill Harmonic reflects that interest.
The story of the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura became an especially meaningful project because it showed how children could discover musical opportunities despite significant economic limitations. Amarilla helped bring that story to international audiences through her work as the documentary’s founder and executive producer.
She has also maintained a relatively private personal life, which means some details about her age, finances, and current activities remain unconfirmed.
Ultimately, Alejandra Amarilla is best understood through the combination of her Paraguayan background, documentary filmmaking, philanthropic interests, and family history. Her contribution to Landfill Harmonic remains the clearest example of her professional work and the lasting public record of her commitment to meaningful storytelling.
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