Soccer Drama 'Forza' With AC Milan Legend Hits the Festival Circuit

Marco Balsamo's directorial debut "Forza" is getting the global push it deserves. The soccer drama, which shot across Bali and Milan with AC Milan great Alessandro Costacurta in the cast, just got picked up for international sales by EST N8. That means it's heading to TIFFCOM in Tokyo later this month — the real heavyweight market for distributors looking to move product across Asia and beyond.

Before that circuit, the film gets its first public screening at Jakarta Film Week on October 25. Then comes the Tokyo market run October 28–30, where EST N8 will be shopping it around to buyers. For Balsamo's first time directing a feature, that's the kind of rollout that signals some real confidence in what he's made.

Sports dramas don't always travel, but having a recognizable figure like Costacurta attached helps grease the wheels — especially in international markets where the brand recognition matters. We'll see how it lands with distributors and what kind of deals shake loose.

Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/film/news/soccer-drama-forza-ac-milan-alessandro-costacurta-tokyo-market-est-n8-1236930538/