Buenos Aires, Argentina – Global streaming giant Netflix is significantly strengthening its investment in Argentine content production, accelerating its push into the South American market. Netflix recently announced the release of a new film starring Ricardo Darín, one of Argentina's most prominent actors, and revealed plans to also debut a work by popular director Marcos Carnevale. This signifies Netflix's high expectations for Argentina's rich storytelling capabilities and talented filmmakers.
Ricardo Darín and Diego Peretti in the Psychological Thriller 'Lo dejamos acá'
The newly unveiled Netflix film, 'Lo dejamos acá', stars Argentina's top actor Ricardo Darín alongside another powerhouse, Diego Peretti. The movie delves into the story of a pragmatic psychoanalyst (Darín) who, disillusioned with traditional psychotherapy methods, begins to cross ethical boundaries with his patients. Everything seems to be going smoothly until a writer (Peretti), struggling with his creative work, visits his office, leading to unpredictable events.
'Lo dejamos acá' is produced by Kenya Films, Darín's production company. The film is directed by Hernán Goldfrid, who previously helmed Darín's hit film 'Thesis of a Homicide' and co-directed 'The Bronze Garden,' one of HBO Latin America's top series. The screenplay, co-written by Emanuel Diez (who also co-wrote Juan José Campanella's 'The Envoys,' Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat's 'El Encargado, The One in Charge,' and Robert De Niro's 'Nada'), promises a robust storyline.
Marcos Carnevale's Moving Drama 'El Último Gigante'
Another new release is 'El Último Gigante' by popular director Marcos Carnevale ('Elsa and Fred'). This film stars Oscar Martínez ('Official Competition') and depicts the story of a charming travel guide who unexpectedly reunites with his father, Julián, 28 years after he abandoned him.
Netflix describes the plot: "Through an intense and emotional encounter, the two explore past wounds, resentment, and the possibility of forgiveness." In addition to Oscar Martínez and Matías Mayer, 'El Último Gigante' features Inés Estévez, Luis Luque, Silvia Kutika, and Yoyi Francella. The production is handled by Leyenda Films and Kuarzo International Films.
These two new films are set to begin production this month and will enrich Netflix's Argentine content lineup, joining the already announced Argentine Academy Award-winning film 'Parque Lezama' by Juan José Campanella.
Juan José Campanella's 'Parque Lezama': A Touching Drama Based on a Play
Argentine Oscar-winning director Juan José Campanella ('El secreto de sus ojos, The Secret in Their Eyes') is producing 'Parque Lezama' through his Buenos Aires-based production company, 100 Bares Producciones. The film explores the unexpected friendship between two elderly gentlemen: Luis Brandoni, a lifelong communist, and Eduardo Blanco, who is indifferent to politics. They spend their days sitting on a bench in Buenos Aires' Lezama Park, resolving conflicts with other park-goers and their families.
'Parque Lezama' is based on a play that Campanella himself directed, starring Brandoni and Blanco. The play enjoyed immense popularity for three seasons and shares thematic similarities with Herb Gardner's Broadway play 'I’m Not Rappaport,' which ran on Broadway from 1985 to 1988, winning Best Play, Lighting Design, and Actor (Judd Hirsch). Campanella adapted the original play's setting from New York's Central Park to Buenos Aires' Lezama Park, aligning it with Argentine sensibilities.
Netflix's 'Double Down' Strategy in the Argentine Market
Netflix's substantial investment and collaboration with Argentina's top actors and directors underscore the immense importance the streaming service places on the Argentine market. Recently, Netflix has increased subscription fees in key markets, including Argentina, to secure resources for expanding content investment.
Notably, the Netflix original series 'El Eternauta,' starring Ricardo Darín and based on an iconic Argentine graphic novel, achieved significant success, topping global viewership rankings for non-English TV programs shortly after its release. This demonstrates the effectiveness of Netflix's strategy to invest in stories rooted in local cultural heritage, thereby building regional loyalty while introducing new voices to international audiences.
The production of 'El Eternauta' is credited with contributing millions of dollars to the Argentine economy, creating hundreds of specialized jobs, and leading to advancements in Argentine film production technology. This has helped establish Buenos Aires as a new technological hub for Latin American filmmaking. Building on these successes, Netflix aims to aggressively invest further in Argentine content production and captivate global viewers through localized content.
Spencer Neumann, Netflix's Chief Financial Officer, announced plans to invest approximately $18 billion in content spending in 2025, emphasizing that they "have not reached a ceiling in content spending." This indicates that Netflix will continue to pursue global growth by producing diverse genres and formats of content in over 50 countries worldwide. Argentina plays a crucial role in Netflix's global strategy, and a greater variety of local content is expected to be introduced to global audiences in the future.
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