Oscar-nominated to Executive Produce Sweatshop Drama ‘Dreamer’ with Infinity Hill

Mexico’s Yalitza Aparicio, Oscar nominated for her careerlaunching turn in Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma,” and Infinity Hill, producers of the Oscar-nominated Argentine drama “Argentina 1985,” have boarded sweatshop thriller “Dreamer” (previously titled “Bonded”) as executive producers.

The drama features a stellar cast that includes Golden Globe nominee Diego Calva (“Babylon”), Chile’s Alfredo Castro (“From Afar”), Mexico’s Paulina Gaitán (“Narcos”) and Jason Patric (“The Lost Boys”).

The directorial feature debut of helmer-scribe Mohit Ramchandani, “Dreamer” is produced by Mexican filmmaker Luis Mandoki (“Innocent Voices), Jon Graham (“The Vault”) and Kyle Stroud (“In Full Bloom”).

Drama will have its world premiere at the Mammoth Film Festival where it closes the event.

Inspired by the 1995 El Monte California sweatshop raid, “Dreamer” follows a young Mexican boy who aspires to become a soccer star. His dreams are upended when he’s smuggled across the border and sold to a sweatshop making fast fashion in downtown Los Angeles. At first, he blends in, keeping his head down and following the 18hour workdays imposed by his captors. However, the disappearance of a young girl makes it clear to him that he needs to escape.

“Emotionally, it’s very impactful,” said Aparicio, adding: “The script is incredible. It’s a movie that keeps you present, always wondering what’s going to happen next. I’m proud to be part of such an important and thought-provoking film.”

“We were blown away by the filmmaking and moved quickly to hire Ramchandani on another project,” said Axel Kuschevatzky of Infinity Hill. “What makes ‘Dreamer’ unique is that it’s a social drama wrapped in a genre movie with gripping horror and action sequences that keeps you on the edge of your seat,” he added. “At the same time, as a Latino, it’s hard not to think about how many more cases like ‘Dreamer’ are out there, and what we’re going to do about it,” he mused.