Oscar-winning production company Fabula and Venice Critics’ Week Grand Prize winner Tana Gilbert are teaming up to develop Where Is Narumi?, a documentary series that will investigate the 2016 murder of Japanese student Narumi Kurosaki by her ex-partner, Nicolás Zepeda.
This collaboration brings together Gilbert, whose connection to the case stems from attending the same university as Zepeda, and Fabula, the Chilean production house founded by Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín. Fabula recently earned two Academy Award nominations in 2024 for El Conde (Best Cinematography) and The Eternal Memory (Best Documentary Feature).
Gilbert, who has a personal connection to the case, will bring a unique perspective to the series. “As a woman and storyteller, I feel a deep responsibility to help break down harmful narratives about women from within,” Gilbert explains. Drawing on her experience with archival materials, she plans to explore the digital traces left by both Zepeda and Kurosaki, looking into how “misogyny in digital spaces often leads to real-world violence.”
Fabula, known for tackling important social issues, views the series as an opportunity to explore broader themes of gender violence. The company describes Where Is Narumi? as an urgent story that has sparked significant media, judicial, and political conversations across three continents: America, Europe, and Asia. The series aims to go beyond traditional true crime narratives by examining the “mandate of masculinity” – societal expectations that link manhood with control over women. Gilbert plans to expose early signs of abusive behavior while challenging media sensationalism, which often contributes to society’s silence on such issues.
The project is still in development, with the writing phase expected to be completed by April 2025. Production is slated to begin in the latter half of 2025. As a Chilean-French co-production with strong ties to Japan, the team is presenting the series at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) to secure funding and explore potential Japanese creative collaborations.
The series will feature Fabula’s experienced production team, including Mariane Hartard, who serves as executive production director for film and TV, Sofía Libkind, head of creative development, and Rocío Jadue, who oversees the company’s Latin-American film division and previously produced the Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman.
Related topics:
