At stake (En juego) is a 7-minute and 40-second short film made in Argentina and directed by Emiliano Romero. The film unfolds as a duel on a basketball court, a sporting setting that becomes a metaphor for conflict, power and rivalry.
Its central theme revolves around a one-on-one challenge between two men, whose clash concerns not only the game but a disagreement involving a third person. The match thus takes on symbolic significance, charged with emotional and dramatic tension. The soundtrack lends force to the images, with a furious violin amplifying feelings of jealousy and rage.
The protagonists are played by Laureano Lozano and Daniel Pacheco Bautista (the latter also known for appearing in the series El marginal), who embody a challenge that is both physical and psychological.
The film uses basketball not as an official competitive contest but as a site of personal confrontation, where movement, action and the energy of the body become narrative language.
The message the film seeks to convey is connected to the idea of human conflict: as Shakespeare already suggested with the phrase “When two ride on one horse, one must ride behind,” the story shows how, in every power relationship, one party must inevitably give way.
From a production perspective, the short film was made with an independent budget of USD 10,000. It is neither a student project nor the director's first work; he has already made films such as Topos, Sarah and Cantautor. Completed on 5 February 2025, the film was shot in black and white using digital 4K technology, giving it a spare and intense visual aesthetic.
Film Information
Title: At stake
Original title: En juego
Direction: Emiliano Romero
Production: Emiliano Romero
Country: Argentina
Language: Spanish
Running time: 7 minutes and 40 seconds
Genre: Fiction short film
Sport featured: Basketball
Main subject(s): Laureano Lozano, Daniel Pacheco Bautista
Completion date: 5 February 2025
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: Digital 4K, 16:9, black and white
Director's first film: No
Student project: No