El Señor Presidente is the most recent film adaptation of the 1946 homonymous novel by Guatemalan writer Miguel Ángel Asturias, directed by Venezuelan Rómulo Guardia and produced by RCTV (Radio Caracas Televisión Internacional), released in November 2007[1] and is the first film produced by RCTV in more than twenty years.

[2] This version paints the picture of a hopeless love story—one that is unable to succeed under the terrorizing and corrupt dictatorship.

Director Granier divulged in an interview, "We had to film in secret in order to avoid being shut down.

"[2] Antonio Blanco, who also worked on this adaptation, said that: "We plan to market the film as a Guatemalan story to avoid any problems with authorities."

RCTV lost its terrestrial broadcasting rights in mid-2007 when the government of Hugo Chávez (who was democratically elected, but accused by opponents of harboring dictatorial tendencies) did not renew the network's license.