Madre Mía
15 min
Directed by Mónica G. Carter
Written by Ambika Subra
Produced by Tocaya and The Maestros
Language: Spanish
Cinematography by Miguel Zettina
Synopsis: On the outskirts of Tampico, Mexico, unemployed recluse Miguel (56) struggles to care for his dying mother, La Madre, with whom he shares a toxic, codependent bond. As her dementia worsens, she begins wandering the streets—bald head, frail body, and completely naked—an eerie, almost otherworldly sight. When rumors of an alien sighting sweep through town, Miguel gets an idea: he can stage his mother as an extraterrestrial and sell the photos to afford her medication.
The images go viral, igniting a local media frenzy. But as the town indulges in the spectacle, Miguel’s fleeting notoriety distorts his sense of purpose. What begins as survival turns into something darker—an exploitation he can no longer justify, yet refuses to abandon. As La Madre’s condition deteriorates and Miguel’s grip on his secret unravels, he is forced to confront a strange reality.
Core Essence: Madre Mía explores the fear of the unknown, the human hunger for validation, and the unsettling question: If aliens are the “other” we fear, are we the real extraterrestrials?
Alien Playeras: Inspired by Tampico’s iconic playeras (t-shirts) and alien lore, we collaborate with local Tampico artists to create a fashion line featuring t-shirts, socks, and keychains—inspired by and appearing within the film. The items deepen the connection between narrative and real-life culture. Launching before the film’s release, the collection will be sold in local markets, online, and in stores, engaging audiences early and throughout the film’s lifespan
OFF-THE-SCREEN #2
As part of the film’s production, Tocaya will host AI-generation workshops introducing these new tools to local artists and universities. These workshops will directly contribute to the second off-the-screen:
AI News Channel: Within the film, an AI-generated news channel covers Miguel’s alien sightings. Tocaya brings this to life through AI workshops for local artists, feeding into a real, interactive platform (Patreon, YouTube).
Post-release, community-submitted alien sightings will appear in weekly segments, with fabricated alien documents further immersing participants in the film’s mythology. The result? A living narrative that asks: What the hell is happening in Tampico?