Born in Lima, Peru, Marcos graduated from the Communications program at San Martin de Porras University in 1985. In Peru he worked as a journalist and photographer for the dailies “MARKA”, “LA VOZ”, and the weekly magazine “AMAUTA”. Marcos immigrated to Canada in 1987. He completed his degree from Sheridan College’s Media Arts Film Program in 1995 and a Master Fine Arts in Film Production at York University 2003. Marcos has completed the following shorts films: WATCHING (1994); EL BARRIO (1998); THE HARRIS PROJECT (1998) PROMISED LAND (2002), A LITTLE SQUARE OF HEAVEN (2003), 3x16 (2007), and a medium length documentary, titled MARICONES (2005).

Arriaga also worked as Director of Photography on several independent productions including: DEEP INSIDE CLINT STAR (1999), which won a Gemini award for Best Social and Political Documentary (2000); the feature drama JOHNNY GREY EYES (2001) , which won awards at Toronto’s Inside Out Film Festival and the Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles; ZERO: THE INSIDE STORY (2004); GOLDIROCKS (2003); HONEY MOCASSIN (1998); and several shorts.

Marcos lives and works in Toronto Canada.