Chilean miners’ story headed for big screen

THIRTY-THREE Chilean miners who had been trapped underground for 69 days last year have decided to take their story to the big screen.

Representatives of the miners announced that their movie rights were sold to Oscar-nominated producer Mike Medavoy and the production of a film recounting the eventssurrounding the miraculous rescue is set to begin next year.

Medavoy, who won nomination at the 83rd Oscars for “Black Swan,” will produce the film through his recently formed Half Circle production company in association with Edward McGurn, his vice-president at Phoenix Pictures.

“Like millions of people around the world, I was completely engrossed watching the rescue at Copiapo,” said Medavoy, adding “this is a story about the triumph of the human spirit and a testament to the courage and perseverance of the Chilean people. I can’t think of a better story than this one to bring to the screen.”

Miner Juan Andres Illanes said: “One year after the collapse of the mine, we consider this to be a great step towards the realisation of a film based on our experience in the mine.

“This is the only official and authorised film about what we lived in the San Jose mine. Much of our story has never been told.”

Two Chilean entrepreneurs Carlos Eugenio Lavin and Leopoldo Enriquez will serve as executive producers.

Jose Rivera, whose screenplay for Motorcycle Diaries had been nominated for Academy Award, will pen the script.