Bob Conolly

"Violeta and Dan went to make a film about refugees, but soon realised there was a bigger story right under their noses. An important, hidden story that needed to be told to the world. The ordeal they went through to bring their raw material home in the teeth of opposition was extraordinary, and no less arduous has been the task of piecing it all together into a powerful and moving document. They have my complete admiration."

Bob Conolly - Independent Filmmaker (Academy Award Nomination)

David Bradbury

"They told us the truth as they saw it and people risked their positions, trusted them to tell that truth hoping it might help. They were following a time-honoured tradition of being truly independent filmmakers. When the same slavery accusations proved true of the opposing side – the Polisario’s enemies, the Moroccans, Violeta and Dan also exposed that.

They discovered early in their careers what it took me decades to see: the Left is just as capable of ‘devouring its own babies’ as the Right. Rather than facing the music and moving to right an ancient feudal custom, the Polisario have battened down the hatches and brought on board well intentioned but naïve PC supporters who out of a blind loyalty have done their best to undercut the veracity of Stolen and thus continue the practice of slavery in the camps. This is a classic case of shoot the messengers."

David Bradbury - Independent Filmmaker (Two Academy Award Nominations)

Hubert Sauper

"This afternoon I watched STOLEN together with Denise, my editor. Your work is much more then a film about modern slavery: it is a description of the crime that seems to follow humanity until it's end, the crime of ignorance.

Congratulations to your work Ayala!  It's useless to say, I could relate to most everything in it, to the characters in the desert as well as to you as filmmakers. I feel like i've been in and out of North Africa with you two people for some years.

 Your film is stronger than the stupid attempts to discredit it."

Hubert Sauper -  Director of Darwin’s Nightmare  (Academy Award Nomination in 2006)

Deborah Dickson

"I acted as a story consultant or story editor, helping the filmmakers uncover the story in their film and tell it in the most truthful and compelling way possible. We had a particularly productive relationship. I became a producer because of the amount of help I gave them. 
 
Having seen so much of the footage, I can tell you that the filmmakers did not lie to or manipulate their subjects. They went to do one story but upon the realization of the issue of slavery, the film changed. The Polisario do not want this story out because it makes them look bad. And I believe they are using all means to discredit the filmmakers."

Deborah Dickson - Independent Filmmaker (Three Academy Award Nominations)

Paula Constant

"I spent three years walking through the Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali and Niger with camels. My second book, 'Sahara', will be released by Random House this October. In it, I address the issue of slavery - one that profoundly shocked and intrigued me, in my daily interactions in nomadic tents.  Nowhere did I find the practice more prevalent than in the Western Sahara, and Mauritania.

I feel sad the subtleties of the issues have yet again been subsumed by the political arm of the Saharawi movement.  As with many nomads who still live a traditional life in the Western Sahara, I have little time for the machinations of the Polisario.  There is not a Saharawi nomad alive who wouldn't acknowledge - openly - the reality of slavery both as a tradition, and ongoing practice.  To attempt to sweep it under the carpet in the name of political interest is tragic."

Paula Constant - Author of 'Sahara'

Shane Simpson

"This is a film that gets beneath the skin of the camps and gives voice to a pain that cannot be observed and will not be disclosed until trust is established. The filmmakers built that trust and the astonishing disclosures by the subjects are made directly to camera.

No-one supports slavery of the kind disclosed in ‘Stolen’. But instead of admitting that the problem exists and explaining what they are doing to eradicate it, the POLISARIO and its supporters have expended extraordinary resources in an effort to destroy the reputation of the filmmakers and of the film itself. Why? Because the film tells a story that is politically embarrassing.

‘Stolen’ is a film made on a very small budget by young filmmakers. But Ayala and Fallshaw have made a brave film that is already effecting change."

Shane Simpson - Special Counsel