World · Latin America · 3 hrs ago
Orsai admits its film project failed as 18 partners file a criminal complaint
Orsai community director Nacho Merlo said the group’s film project went badly and acknowledged that promises were not fulfilled.
The cultural organization was founded by writer Hernán Casciari and is based in Argentina.
Eighteen producer-partners filed a criminal complaint against Casciari and Orsai Audiovisuales, alleging fraud and fraudulent administration.
The case is being handled by a criminal court and prosecutor’s office in Buenos Aires.
Merlo said Orsai had prepared a report detailing money movements, the budget and what happened, and made it available to the partners.
He also asked supporters to speak publicly in defence of the community, recalling its shared history and cultural work.
The case is ongoing, and Merlo said Orsai plans to continue telling stories.
Eighteen producer partners filed a criminal complaint against Hernán Casciari and Orsai Audiovisuales over alleged fraud and fraudulent administration.
Orsai community director Nacho Merlo admitted that the film project had gone badly and that promises were not fulfilled.
Merlo said Orsai had prepared a report detailing the project’s movements, budget and what happened.
He also urged producer partners to speak publicly in defense of the Orsai community.
The complaint is being handled by a criminal court and prosecutor’s office in Buenos Aires.
- Who
- Eighteen producer partners filed the complaint against Hernán Casciari and Orsai Audiovisuales. Orsai community director Nacho Merlo addressed the partners.
- What
- The partners filed a criminal complaint alleging fraud and fraudulent administration. Orsai acknowledged that its film project failed.
- When
- The article was published on October 17, 2026. The complaint’s filing date is not stated.
- Where
- The case is before National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 34, with Prosecutor’s Office No. 16 in Buenos Aires involved.
- Why
- The partners allege fraud and fraudulent administration. Merlo said promises were not fulfilled and Orsai was unable to transfer its publishing-industry funding model to audiovisual production.
Producer partners who filed the complaint
Orsai
Complaint
Producer partners who filed the complaint
They allege fraud and fraudulent administration by Casciari and Orsai Audiovisuales.
Orsai
Merlo admitted the film project went badly and said promises were not fulfilled; the article does not report a response to the specific allegations.
Merlo’s connection with the Orsai project began after he noticed errors in issue No. 5 of Orsai magazine.
A profile of Merlo remained published on the Orsai community website.
Infobae reported that 18 producer partners had filed a criminal complaint and that Merlo had acknowledged the film project failed.
- Complainants
- 18 producer partners
- Defendants named in complaint
- Hernán Casciari and Orsai Audiovisuales
- Alleged offenses
- Fraud and fraudulent administration
- Court
- National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 34
- Prosecutor’s office
- No. 16, Buenos Aires
- Article publication
- October 17, 2026
3 sources
“Hacer cine nos salió mal”: Orsai les pidió a sus seguidores que los defiendan tras la denuncia contra Casciari
What people are saying
We failed. In these twenty years of making culture, making films went badly for us.
We said things that did not happen, we thought we could take a model we knew very well from the publishing industry to the audiovisual industry, and we could not, did not know how, or were not up to it.