In 1999, the entertainment world was profoundly shaken by the violent murder of Paco Stanley, a beloved and charismatic figure on Mexican television known for his role as a host and comedian. Stanley’s life was abruptly cut short when he was fatally shot in a restaurant in what was then known as the Federal District. This tragic event immortalized his name in history, becoming one of the most perplexing and high-profile media crimes in Mexico. Even today, it continues to provoke uncertainty, fuel numerous theories, and captivate immense fascination due to the enigmatic circumstances surrounding it. To commemorate the 24th anniversary of this shocking incident, the upcoming documentary series “The Show: Chronicle of a Murder,” produced by ViX, seeks to explore the intricate details of this tragic event.

A synopsis shared by The Country outlines the focus of the series: “The murder of Paco Stanley, the most popular comedian on Mexican television, ignited a wave of intrigue within both political and entertainment circles in 1999. Through meticulous research, archival footage from the period, and direct testimonies from key individuals involved in the case, this documentary series produced by N+ Docs delves deep into show culture and unveils the deceit and tragedies that unexpectedly heralded the advent of democracy in Mexico in 2000.”

“The Show: Chronicle of a Murder” is directed by the acclaimed Mexican reporter, writer, and filmmaker Diego Enrique Osorno. The series is produced by Carlos Sosa, known for his work on “Sanctorum.” The research team includes esteemed journalists such as Luis Mendoza Ovando, Salma Abo Harp, Meño Larios, and Paola Odiardi.

The documentary features testimonies from prominent figures in Mexican television, including Emilio Azcárraga Jean of Televisa and Ricardo Salinas Pliego of TV Azteca. It also includes insights from Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, who was serving as Head of Government of the Federal District at the time of Stanley’s murder, and Mario Bezares, a close associate of Stanley who was initially suspected as an accomplice in the homicide.

Additional participants in the project include Brenda Bezares, Paola Durante, Álvaro Cueva, Alfredo Adame, Benito Castro, Verónica Macías, Luis de Alba, Jorge Garralda, Lilly Téllez, Chumel Torres, and Sofía Niño de Rivera.

Diego Enrique Osorno hails from Monterrey, Nuevo León, and is renowned for his storytelling prowess. In addition to his extensive experience as a reporter, chronicler, and author of non-fiction books, Osorno has written and directed several films, short films, and television series within the documentary genre over the past decade. His projects consistently tackle provocative social and political issues.

Osorno has been nominated for the prestigious Ariel Award five times. His nominations include Best Documentary Feature Film for “Mayor” (2012) and “Midday Cowboy” (2019), Best Original Screenplay for “The Devil’s Freedom” (2017), and Best Documentary Short Film for “The Brave See Death Only Once” (2019) and “The Busty Doll” (2017).

“The Show: Chronicle of a Murder” marks Osorno’s return to television after a four-year hiatus. In 2019, he directed the documentary miniseries “1994” for Netflix.

This documentary series promises to provide an in-depth examination of Paco Stanley’s murder and its far-reaching implications within Mexican society. By combining thorough investigative work with powerful personal accounts, it aims to shed light on a crime that has left an indelible mark on Mexico’s cultural and political landscape.