Chile’s Villano Producciones and Storyboard Media are teaming with Viven Film (Switzerland) and Chilean actor-producer Benjamín Vicuña (“Locked Up,” “Fuga”) to sign a co-production agreement for the feature film “Simulacro” during this year’s Cannes market. Directed by Juan Ignacio Sabatini, the film is a political-sports thriller based on a real event that shocked the world of football.
Set in Brazil, “Simulacro” dramatizes the 1989 scandal during a World Cup qualifier between Chile and Brazil, when Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas staged an injury during the match at the Maracanã Stadium. The incident sparked global outrage and exposed deep-rooted issues within the sport.
“The Condor Rojas case was a milestone in my life and in the life of an entire generation of a country and, why not say it, a scar on world football,” Vicuña tells Variety. “Being able to make a movie and reveal what really happened, how that moment was built, what is true, what is myth, what is real, what the consequences were, I find it extremely compelling because it’s a story that, anywhere in the world, a simulation like this one is simply unbelievable.”
The film centers on Chomsky, an obsessive radio journalist who investigates the incident, uncovering a network of corruption, political manipulation and media spectacle. Combining thriller elements with black humor, the story moves between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
“We envision a high-voltage film, full of action and touches of humor, at times bordering on a police thriller, featuring lovable and relatable characters, appealing not only to football fans but also to those who are fascinated by the madness that surrounds it,” says Sabatini.
“‘Simulacro’ is a story so incredible it seems made up, but it happened. It’s a story that exposes how great national narratives are constructed, engaging with our collective memory and the global spectacle,” explain Storyboard’s Gabriela Sandoval and Carlos Nuñez. “At the Marché du Film, we are looking for partners, especially Brazilian ones, who want to be part of this story that resonates with audiences around the world.”
Fellow co-producers Javier Krause and Sebastián Cepeda add, “‘Simulacro’ represents a unique opportunity for Viven Films: the starting point of our project development plan in co-production with Latin America. We are driven both by our Argentine roots and a deep desire to remain connected to our culture. Moreover, we are fortunate to be in an ideal moment, surrounded by strategic partners and accompanied by a director who knows exactly how to bring this fable to life.”
The producers are actively seeking Brazilian and additional Latin American partners, as a large portion of the film is set in Brazil.
