Ecuadorian filmmaker Ana Cristina Benítez makes her feature debut with the documentary Mama, which intimately chronicles her personal battle with late-stage breast cancer. The documentary focuses on her diagnosis and goes in-depth about her years of treatment. It provides an emotionally raw, first-person account on an oft-stigmatized, deeply personal topic.
Mama had its world premiere in the Persister section at Hot Docs. This go-to international film fest runs in Toronto from Apr 24 to May 4, 2024. Utopia Docs also recently acquired world rights to this powerful documentary ahead of its premiere. This acquisition is a testament to their commitment to presenting fascinating stories from, or featured in, Latin America.
A Personal Narrative of Courage
In “Mama,” Ana Cristina Benítez vividly recounts her experience with breast cancer. Her frank and funny first-person narrative is an incredibly powerful hook that engages audiences. By weaving her story together alongside the archival footage, the film offers a true-to-life perspective of who she was. Her father had emigrated to the US and sent a camera back to her home country of El Salvador. He encouraged the family to document their daily experiences through video and photography so he could remain engaged from thousands of miles away.
This groundbreaking narrative technique brings us into the emotional gravity of her eventful journey. It’s a poignant reminder of how precious family connections become in hard times. Through her lens, audiences experience the grace, grit and courage it takes to face such an arduous trek.
“I was deeply moved by the courage and sensitive approach Ana had, transforming such a hard issue into a powerful piece of art that will reverberate through all kinds of people on many different levels.” – Renato Mangarello
Utopia Docs Takes the Helm
Utopia Docs Professionalizing international distribution and co-production of doc features, series & shorts made about & for Latin America. Their acquisition of Mama fits squarely into their mission to introduce socially relevant and artistically inventive work to wider audiences. This collaboration reflects deep commitment to slowing down, listening, and amplifying voices from the region. We’re hoping to ensure that the most critical narratives receive the spotlight.
Bernarda Cornejo Pinto, an integral part of our production team, shared her excitement about representing with Utopia Docs.
“When we looked at Utopia Docs’ catalogue, we immediately saw films that felt compatible with Mama – creative, intimate, and socially engaged. From the beginning, it was important for us to feel close to everyone on our team, and working with a sales agent who prioritises Latin America made us feel understood and accompanied in the process.” – Bernarda Cornejo Pinto
Impactful Storytelling and Cultural Significance
Mama exemplifies how personal storytelling can be a powerful tool for raising awareness about health issues such as breast cancer. Adventure, love, and rediscovery Ana Cristina Benítez tells her personal story. By sharing her experience, she sheds light on the trials and tribulations that patients go through during treatment and helps develop compassion and awareness in the world.
The film so much explores the family connections that it even uses archival footage. This decision adds complexity to the narrative and challenges viewers to consider their own lived experiences and familial relationships in times of crisis. As a cultural artifact, as Mama pushes into theaters and film festivals alike, its importance is impossible to overstate.