The Madoff Affair (2021)

The Madoff Affair, directed by Marcela Gaviria in 2021, goes into the web of deception spun by Bernard Madoff, a name synonymous with one of the most audacious financial frauds in history.

In the mid-1960s, Bernard Madoff began luring money from affluent businessmen at exclusive country clubs, promising them steady, guaranteed returns on their investments.

His scheme expanded globally as he targeted Europe and Latin America, brokering deals with powerful hedge fund managers and feeder funds from Buenos Aires to Geneva. Billions of dollars flowed into Madoff’s investment firm, and his feeders amassed immense wealth.

The competition marveled at Madoff’s ability to consistently deliver returns, even during economic downturns. However, suspicions arose. Allegations of front-running and operating a Ponzi scheme haunted him, leading to multiple investigations by the SEC over two decades. Yet, Madoff remained untouchable until December 11, 2008, when he confessed that it was all one big lie.

The Madoff Affair unravels the story behind the world’s first truly global Ponzi scheme—a deception that endured longer, reached wider, and cut deeper than any other business scandal in history.

Through interviews with former employees of Madoff Securities and revealing footage, the documentary takes viewers inside the heart of the fraud, exposing the intricate mechanisms that allowed Madoff to perpetrate his colossal financial crime.

In a world where trust is paramount, Madoff’s audacity and betrayal serve as a reminder of the fragility of our financial systems and the devastating impact of greed on unsuspecting victims.