A new fictional series centered on the controversial U.S. Army School of the Americas is moving forward with significant creative talent attached. Panamanian filmmaker Abner Benaim, known for his Oscar-nominated work including “Plaza Catedral,” will serve as co-director of “School of the Americas,” alongside Oscar Godoy. The project has secured a spot in the Co-Production and Financing Forum at the Iberseries & Platino Industria event scheduled for late September in Madrid.
The series will feature Chilean actors Daniela Vega and Alfredo Castro in leading roles. Vega gained international recognition for her performance in the Academy Award-winning film “A Fantastic Woman,” while Castro has become known for his collaborations with director Pablo Larraín and various Latin American productions. The narrative follows a human rights investigator who uncovers evidence of a 1983 massacre connected to the military institution, launching an investigation that spans three continents.
The story examines the real School of the Americas, which operated in the Panama Canal Zone for decades and trained military officers from across Latin America. According to executive producer Guillermo Escalona, the series aims to explore the institutional teaching of counterinsurgency tactics rather than focus on individuals. Production companies Seedling Media and La Panda Productions are targeting 2028 to begin principal photography, contingent upon securing full financing for the ambitious project.
Originally reported by Variety →
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