In a notable prestige project package from Chile, Gonzalo Maza, co-writer of Sebastian Lelio’s Academy Award-winning “A Fantastic Woman,” has boarded “I Don’t Know How to Say Goodbye,” a drama thriller non-fiction series to be directed by Carola Fuentes and produced by Rafael Valdeavellano, re-teaming after their collaboration as co-writers and directors on the admired “Chicago Boys,” (2015) and “Breaking the Brick” (2022). 

Both doc features were nuanced studies of the impact of Chicago school of Neoliberal thought on standard economic policy in Augusto Pinochet’s Chile. “Goodbye” turns on another often deleterious mindset, the highly codified and often cruel power dynamics seen in the online representation of fellow high school students. 

Set up at the partners’ La Ventana Cine in Santiago de Chile, “I Don’t Want to Say Goodbye,” now in development, is executive produced by director Marcela Said (“Los Perros,” 2017), who has helmed episodes of “Gangs of London,” (2022), “Lupin” (2021) and “Narcos” (2o2o).

It forms part of a large package of projects being brought onto the market at Ventana Sur by promotion agency Cinemachile and Chile’s Consejo National de Television (CNTV), the latter as part of the ever expanding VS section SoloSerieS.

Maza also co-wrote and produced Lelio’s breakout “Gloria,” which won best actress for Paulina García at 2015’s Berlin and was remade by Lelio as “Gloria Bell,” starring Julianne Moore.

Inspired by the true story of Katy Winter,“I Don’t Know How to Say Goodbye” sees her parents engage in a search for justice after Winter, a student at Chile’s Nido de las Aguilas high-school, commited suicide at the age of 16 in May 2018. 

According to the series’ synopsis, a farewell letter reveals clues about the cyberbullying she suffered at high-school and the possible culprits. Yet suspects refuse to go on trial and instead blame the parents about Katy’s depression.

Chilean press reports talk about Katy suffering what they call “slutshaming,” and that when Katy broke up with her boyfriend, she feared he would release online her “pack” of photos with her in a state of undress. 

It remains to be seen exactly what way Fuentes and Maza will take the story, though Fuentes has given some indications. 

Asking why Katy commit suicide, “our series uniquely blends the true-crime genre with a deeply personal narrative, exploring the tragic story of Katy Winter and her family’s crusade against cyberbullying,” Fuentes told Variety. 

“This four-episode series delves into the complexities of digital-age challenges. It’s a poignant examination of loss, justice, and the relentless pursuit of truth in a world where virtual actions have real-life consequences,” Fuentes added.

“I Don’t Know How to Say Goodbye” was presented this year at Dok Leipzig Co-Pro Market, Sanfic Industria and Mercado de Doc Montevideo. It has received development funding from Chile’s Audiovisual Fund.