Hola Mamá: A Docuseries Exploring Illegal Adoption Practices Between Chile and America Heads to Cannes Market
Canadian Documentary Explores Dark History of Illegal Adoptions in Chile
Canadian production company APL Films is set to launch sales at Cannes for its three-part docuseries, Hola Mamá. The series follows first-time filmmaker Adrian Reamey, a Chilean-born adoptee raised in the United States, as she searches for her birth mother. This personal journey unveils a decades-long operation of illegal adoptions linked to the political and economic policies established during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship in Chile.
Produced by two-time Emmy nominee Jonathan T. Baker, the docuseries delves into the structural power dynamics behind forced separations. Baker notes that the investigation reveals a network designed to obscure the truth, with various individuals now committed to exposing these hidden realities.
Filmmakers emphasize that this system resulted in children being taken from impoverished mothers and placed with wealthier families abroad, exploiting socio-economic disparities and turning adoption into a global market while silencing the families affected.
The project’s production team includes Aimee Lubrano and Jill Teeples as producers, with co-producer Mark Nichols and executive producers Gary Reamey, Joanne Driscoll Reamey, Kevin Clifford, and Matt Rachamkin. Additional contributors include story producer Jade Hill, editor Joel Viertel, and JB Productions Director of Development Leah Konings.
“At the heart of Hola Mamá are the mothers and children who have spent decades searching for each other and for answers,” said director Adrian Reamey. “The series combines these powerful personal stories with urgent geopolitical themes, aiming to resonate with global audiences.”
Executive producer Jonathan T. Baker highlighted the documentary’s relevance, particularly in today’s global politics marked by rising authoritarianism. He stated, “Chile as the first real-world test of the neoliberal experiment—what happened to Dr. Salvador Allende and the Chilean people—could not be more instructive for understanding the forces reshaping democracies worldwide.” The series features interviews with experts and Congressman Jamie Raskin.
Baker also remarked on the unique nature of this project, noting that the filmmakers have become advocates in the ongoing efforts to address these issues in Chile. “I couldn’t be prouder of Adrian’s journey and hope the U.S. Government starts to take some responsibility,” he added.
Both Baker and Reamey will attend Cannes, where APL Films aims to secure deals with film buyers, broadcasters, and streaming platforms.
