URGENT UPDATE: Picture Tree International has just announced its acquisition of international sales rights for the gripping hostage thriller, “Last Call.” This real-time film, inspired by true events, is set to captivate audiences as it gears up for its market premiere at the European Film Market (EFM) with screenings expected to draw significant attention.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sherif Francis, “Last Call” unfolds on New Year’s Eve 1999 in Athens. The plot centers around a desperate fugitive armed with a live grenade who takes a family hostage, demanding a live television broadcast just as the world counts down to the new millennium. As the crisis escalates, a young journalist and a divided police force become embroiled in a situation that grips the nation and spirals towards a tragic conclusion.
The film’s narrative digs deep into pressing themes such as media influence and institutional failure, making it relevant to global audiences. “I wanted audiences to feel the same immediacy and uncertainty I felt watching the real event unfold as a child,” Francis stated, emphasizing the film’s real-time structure designed to evoke intense emotional responses.
The ensemble cast features Orfeas Avgoustidis, Maria Nafpliotou, Yorgos Benos, and Dimitris Lalos, all of whom contribute to the film’s powerful storytelling. Produced by Dionyssis Samiotis for Tanweer Productions, “Last Call” was developed from the company’s “Tanweer Pitching Days” initiative, standing out among more than 300 submissions for its compelling premise and international appeal.
Andreas Rothbauer, founder of Picture Tree International, remarked, “‘Last Call’ immediately stood out to us for its gripping real-time structure and true-event hook. It’s an elevated European thriller that can travel strongly across theatrical and premium platforms, and we are very pleased to bring it to the global market.”
The film is set for a domestic theatrical release in Greece and Cyprus, targeting a nationwide rollout across over 80 screens starting on March 19. With its combination of suspenseful storytelling and real-life inspiration, “Last Call” is expected to resonate strongly with audiences worldwide.
As the international film community anticipates its premiere, all eyes will be on Picture Tree International and Tanweer Productions to see how this dramatic thriller unfolds on the global stage. Stay tuned for updates as the EFM approaches and the buzz around “Last Call” grows.
