URGENT UPDATE: Picture Tree International has just acquired international sales rights for the gripping hostage thriller “Last Call”, set to premiere at the European Film Market (EFM). This real-time drama, inspired by true events, is poised to captivate audiences worldwide.
Set in Athens on New Year’s Eve 1999, “Last Call” follows a desperate fugitive armed with a live grenade who takes a family hostage while demanding to go live on television as the world counts down to the new millennium. The film’s intense premise pulls in a young journalist, media executives, and a divided police force, creating a national spectacle that spirals toward a tragic outcome.
Director Sherif Francis aims to immerse viewers in the same sense of immediacy he felt as a child witnessing the real-life event. “With ‘Last Call’, I wanted audiences to feel the same unpredictability of real time,” Francis stated. The film confronts themes of media influence, power dynamics, and institutional failure, making its message universally relevant.
The film features a talented ensemble cast, including Orfeas Avgoustidis, Maria Nafpliotou, Yorgos Benos, and Dimitris Lalos. Produced by Tanweer Productions, it originated from the company’s “Tanweer Pitching Days,” standing out among over 300 submissions.
Andreas Rothbauer, founder of Picture Tree International, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “‘Last Call’ immediately stood out for its gripping structure and true-event hook. It’s an elevated European thriller that can travel strongly across theatrical and premium platforms.”
The film is slated for a domestic theatrical release in Greece and Cyprus on March 19, targeting a rollout on over 80 screens. The production is backed by ERT, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre – Creative Greece, NOVA, and View Master Films, with support from EKKOMED.
As excitement builds, the first teaser for “Last Call” has just debuted, heightening anticipation among international buyers and audiences alike. Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds!
