200% Media, founded by Mari Urdaneta, in association with Karen Barroeta’s Imagine Klever, has secured the exclusive audiovisual rights to “Vida de María Sabina: La sabia de los hongos,” the seminal oral autobiography by Álvaro Estrada, published by Siglo XXI Editores. Considered one of Mexico’s most powerful and universal stories—and yet one of the least known globally—this marks the first time the life and spiritual legacy of the iconic Mazatec healer will be adapted for the screen.
Written after years of intimate conversations in her native Mazatec language and the observation of her sacred mushroom ceremonies, “Vida de María Sabina” remains the most authentic and poetic record of a woman revered not as a symbol, but as a sage: a powerful female figure in a patriarchal society who commanded authority and respect within her community.
María Sabina was more than the wise woman of the mushrooms; without ever seeking fame, she became a spiritual and cultural beacon whose sacred practice reached the global stage after American ethnomycologist R. Gordon Wasson documented his 1955 visit in Life Magazine. The exposure brought both fascination and distortion, elevating her to mythic status while violating the integrity of her rituals and her community’s privacy. This adaptation seeks to reimagine her story, revealing the woman behind the myth—one who loved and lost, resisted and endured, and who, through it all, never stopped singing.
“Ancestral wisdom is not a commodity; it is a bridge to the sacred that must be respected. María Sabina was not a psychedelic figure; she was a living portal to the divine. We are deeply honored to share her story with reverence and care,” said Mari Urdaneta, founder and CCO of 200% Media.
“In honoring her legacy, we must also face the complexities it carries. This project will explore the tension between global recognition and local respect, between cultural legacy and colonial interference,” said Karen Barroeta, executive producer.
The adaptation will highlight Sabina’s deep knowledge of traditional Indigenous medicine and the sacred use of psilocybin mushrooms as more than a substance—a ceremonial bridge where she accessed the “language of the saints” to guide transformative rituals that dissolved the boundaries between body, mind, and spirit.
Serving as executive producer, Aíto de la Rúa brings a combination of business expertise and a lifelong commitment to holistic wellness and sacred plant knowledge, further strengthening the project’s mission to honor Sabina’s legacy with authenticity and respect. “María Sabina reconnects us with the forgotten thread of emotional healing, a sacred link lost in modern times,” said de la Rúa.
The deal was brokered directly with the Estrada family, granting 200% Media exclusive worldwide rights to adapt the work across all audiovisual formats, including series, films, and documentaries. The family stated, “Safeguarding ‘Vida de María Sabina: La sabia de los hongos’ has been an act of love and gratitude toward our roots. By joining forces with 200% Media, we begin a new journey to ensure that her voice, wisdom, and light reach more hearts through an audiovisual project that preserves her essence and the spiritual legacy of the Mazatec people.” Published by Siglo XXI Editores, the book remains in circulation across generations, continuing to inspire readers around the world.
200% Media plans to assemble a creative team that includes Indigenous scholars and cultural guardians, with a strong commitment to authenticity and ethical storytelling. No directors or cast are currently attached.
This announcement adds to 200% Media’s growing IP portfolio focused on culturally rich, globally resonant narratives. The studio also has two projects in development with FOX Entertainment Studios that have major talent attached, further expanding its slate of original, unique programming.