'Forza' Goes to Tokyo: Soccer Drama With Costacurta Sells Out Jakarta in Five Minutes

Both rounds of online tickets for the Jakarta screening of "Forza" sold out inside five minutes — and now the soccer drama has an international sales home. EST N8 has picked up the film and will launch it to buyers at TIFFCOM, the Tokyo International Film Festival's market, running Oct. 28–30.

Before Tokyo, "Forza" gets its first public screening on Oct. 25 at Jakarta Film Week, at CGV Grand Indonesia. Marco Balsamo directs his first feature, shot between Bali and Milan. The story follows Bima, an 11-year-old Balinese boy who sees a pro football career as his family's way out. A chance bond with a former AC Milan player, in the final stretch of his own career, changes the outlook for both.

The cast mixes newcomers and veterans. Newcomer Ghazi Alhabsyi leads, with Balsamo himself on screen alongside Tara Sibel Demren and AC Milan icon Alessandro Costacurta. Three Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) winners round it out: Atiqah Hasiholan, Oka Antara and Tio Pakusadewo.

Balsamo wrote the script and produced with Demren. Riva Studios originated the project; its producers include Ario Sagantoro of "The Raid" franchise. Adhya Pictures holds the Indonesian theatrical release, set for 2027.

What does the deal change for the film?

It gives "Forza" a distribution machine with reach. Sophie Shi, head of studios at EST N8, laid out the pitch: "'Forza' follows a boy from Bali and a former pro footballer who open new doors for each other, and it bridges Indonesia and Italy the way only football can."

She added: "Our mission is to take bold Asian stories to audiences worldwide, and a family film told through the world's most popular sport is built to travel. We're proud to launch 'Forza' to buyers at TIFFCOM."

Shi and Jan Paul Villanueva negotiated for EST N8; Balsamo and Demren represented Riva Studios. Villanueva, EVP of acquisitions and global distribution, will lead sales with Cathy Ni, head of sales and U.S. distribution, and Shams Pasha, global sales and marketing executive.

Balsamo framed the Jakarta premiere as a personal milestone. "We've spent years bringing 'Forza' to the screen, and Indonesia has been at the heart of it from the beginning," he said. "This film is a labor of love and a testament to the perseverance and collaboration behind independent filmmaking."

Demren, who co-founded Riva Studios, said the film was designed for families to watch together and discuss afterward. "We hope Bima's journey reminds audiences how much it matters to have someone believe in you, especially when your dreams feel out of reach," she said.

A fast-growing outfit behind it

Demren and Balsamo set up Riva Studios in 2022 as an independent outfit working in live action, animation and music. In 2024 it bought French animation house TeamTO. "Forza" is its first live-action feature.

EST N8's TIFFCOM slate also includes:

• "Tame," a Thai horror title from B-EST Pictures
• Dean Colin Marcial's Manila-set crime thriller "Jaguar"
• "Master," Rezwan Shahriar Sumit's IFFR Big Screen Award winner
• "Pilgrims," Heo Pyoungkang's Korean sci-fi animation, selected for Annecy
• "The Invisible Half," a J-horror from Nishiyama Masaki

The company — formed from EST Studios and N8 — runs offices in Los Angeles and Bangkok and has sold and distributed more than 60 titles across over 100 territories. Its catalog includes the Oscar-shortlisted, Emmy-nominated "Hidden Letters," Bhutan's Oscar entry "The Monk and the Gun," Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize winner "A Useful Ghost" and "Blood Brothers," which topped Netflix's global chart.

With a five-minute sell-out at home, a 2027 Indonesian release on the calendar and TIFFCOM next, "Forza" now tests whether a family football story from Bali can score with buyers worldwide.