Diego Peretti’s Directorial Debut Picked Up by FilmSharks

Scheduled for release in 2025, “Death of a Comedian” (“La Muerte de un Comediante”), renowned Argentine actor Diego Peretti’s first feature film as director, has been acquired for world sales by FilmSharks.

Breaking out in TV series “The Pretenders” (2001-04), directed by Damián Szifrón, Peretti won most immediate notice for comedy, such as “It’s Not You, But Me,” though he can be highly effective in drama or Lucía Puenzo’s “The German Doctor” or humour-laced thrillers like “The Heist of the Century.” 

Peretti has directed alongside Javier Beltramino, a respected figure on Argentina’s animation scene (“Rice and Matchsticks”) and a former Telefonica Studios production manager.  

Now in post-production, the film stars Peretti as Juan Debré, an actor who has played the hero of a TV series for his entire career, oblivious to his true self. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, he flees to Belgium, the land of his childhood hero – a forgotten comic book character – where he asks if he could be a real life hero, putting his life on the line for a just cause.

Falling in with three young engaging immigrants, he soon finds himself on a mission which could answer his question. 

Malena Villa, fast building an impressive curriculum – “El Angel,” “100 Days to Fall in Love,” “Matadero” and now “The Wailing,” prized at San Sebastian last year – co-stars in “Death of a Comedian.”  

To portray the protagonist’s existential crisis, “we have chosen visual and narrative resources that steer away from solemnity, relying on the aesthetics of comics to look into the abyss with the eyes of a child,” Peretti said.

“The estranged point of view of our protagonist guides us through the plot,” he added, citing surrealist René Magritte: “I want to breathe new life into the way we look at the ordinary things around us. But how should one look? Like a child, the first time it encounters a reality outside itself.” 

“Death of a Comedian” The film is produced by Orsai (“The Best Heart Attack of My Life,” “More Respect, I’m Your Mother”), which finances all its projects through a community-based crowdfunding model, of over 15,000 participants. It is headed by Argentina Hernán Casciari, a multi-tasking media figure who has branched out from radio in Spain to writing books and stage plays and finally producing and often writing films (“Más respeto que soy tu madre”) and series (“El mejor infarto de mi vida”).    

FilmSharks international sales & acquisitions exec Federico Pascua will attend this week’s Iberseries Platino & Industria, where he will introduce the film to buyers. 

“Diego Peretti’s is one of the most renown actor’s in Latin America and we’ve  been in love with this amazing project as his debut as a director since day 1 and teaming with Hernán Casciari’ Orsai s vision to produce this film was a great match,” Pascua told Variety.