Argentine writer Hernán Casciari faces a criminal fraud investigation in Buenos Aires after 18 investor-producers filed a lawsuit alleging financial irregularities across Orsai Audiovisuales projects. The October 2026 complaint challenges crowdfunding production bonds and transparency. Casciari rejected the allegations, releasing accounting records while maintaining that poor management does not constitute a crime.
The controversy stems from an independent production model that financed films and cultural projects through community backing rather than traditional studio systems or state subsidies. Operating through Orsai Audiovisuales SRL, where Casciari serves as managing partner, the enterprise developed projects between 2020 and 2024. Investors purchased production bonds, anticipating commercial returns based on public promotions from the author and associated public figures.
Criminal Investigation and Court Filings in Buenos Aires
The legal action is underway in the National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 34, with the investigation delegated to Prosecutor No. 16 in the City of Buenos Aires. Represented by attorney Ariel Gil Ces, the 18 initial complainants claim they received negligible financial returns or total losses alongside insufficient accounting documentation.
The legal team argues that the structure of the offerings misled participants who trusted the author’s public reputation. The crime of fraud is typified when information is not given and people are deceived so that they trust you
, Gil Ces stated to El Destape, adding that the mechanism resembled a pyramid scheme due to participants attracting others into the projects.
Disputed Accounts and Investor Testimony Across Projects
Investor Nicolás Expósito, who invested for bonds in the film La muerte de un comediante, reported receiving approximately 14 dollars from a 500 dollar investment. Other participants cited similar discrepancies.
- The death of a comedian: Financing of the feature debut directed by Diego Peretti.
- Sola en el paraíso: Documentary starring Justina Bustos, in which her manager Javier Furgang intervened to request expense records.
- Iniciativa sobre Diego Maradona: El documental D.A.M. mencionado en la denuncia.
Casciari and Orsai Defend Management Practices
Responding through video statements on social media, Casciari rejected the accusations of fraud and premeditated deception. He acknowledged that certain management decisions fell short and that one project in particular faced severe difficulties.
Hernán Casciari said that it is absolutely ridiculous that I or anyone who works at Orsai woke up one morning wanting to scam people
.
The author noted that he spent 2025 apologizing to backers and associates of the project titled Mano a mano
. While defending the collective financing framework, the studio distributed accounting spreadsheets and invoices via QR codes for community review.
Public Figures Mentioned and Accounting Transparency Demands
The judicial presentation references several public figures associated with Orsai projects, including Andy Kusnetzoff, Darío Barassi, Justina Bustos, and Diego Peretti. Although these artists are not formally listed as defendants in the criminal case, court documents highlight promotional statements made on programs such as Perros de la Calle
.
Plaintiffs maintain that the spreadsheets provided by Orsai fail to serve as audited balances or verifiable records of income and expenses. The judicial inquiry must now evaluate the financial documentation and the mechanisms used to allocate funds across different company initiatives.
