EST N8 Takes Soccer Drama ‘Forza’ to Tokyo’s TIFFCOM Market

EST N8 has acquired international sales rights to “Forza,” Marco Balsamo’s soccer drama featuring former AC Milan player Alessandro Costacurta, according to Variety. The company will introduce the film to buyers at TIFFCOM, the market associated with the Tokyo International Film Festival, on Oct. 28–30. Its first public screening is scheduled for Oct. 25 at Jakarta Film Week.

Shot between Bali and Milan, the film marks Balsamo’s first feature as director. The acquisition gives the production an international sales representative as it moves from its initial public showing toward discussions with overseas distributors. The Jakarta screening and Tokyo market appearance serve different purposes: one introduces the film to audiences, while the other puts it before prospective buyers.

The story follows Bima, an 11-year-old boy from Bali who sees professional soccer as a way to improve his family’s circumstances. His connection with a former AC Milan player approaching the end of his career changes both their perspectives. Newcomer Ghazi Alhabsyi leads the cast, which also includes Balsamo, Tara Sibel Demren, Atiqah Hasiholan, Oka Antara and Tio Pakusadewo.

Balsamo wrote the screenplay and produced the film with Demren. The project originated at Riva Studios, with Ario Sagantoro, whose credits include “The Raid” franchise, among its producers. Adhya Pictures is handling an Indonesian theatrical release planned for 2027, establishing a domestic release path alongside the newly announced international sales effort.

Soccer provides the connection between the film’s Indonesian and Italian settings, but its sales pitch extends beyond the sport itself. Sophie Shi, EST N8’s head of studios, described the production as a family-oriented story whose themes of hope could reach viewers across languages and cultures. That is the company’s positioning for buyers, rather than an indication of distribution agreements already secured.

The Jakarta screening offers an early opportunity to assess audience response before the Tokyo meetings. Variety reported that both online ticket releases for the showing at CGV Grand Indonesia sold out within five minutes. The demand signals interest in that event, although a single screening cannot establish how the film will perform during a wider theatrical release.

For Balsamo, the public presentation also marks a milestone for a debut developed across two countries. He described the production as a years-long undertaking with Indonesia central to its development. Demren said the filmmakers intended the story to be watched and discussed by families, emphasizing the importance of encouragement when a child’s ambitions seem difficult to achieve.

The immediate next steps are the Jakarta audience debut and EST N8’s TIFFCOM sales launch. Those appearances will begin testing the film’s appeal with viewers and international buyers ahead of the planned Indonesian release. The announced sales appointment establishes who will represent “Forza” internationally; it does not, by itself, confirm where or when audiences outside Indonesia will be able to see it.