URGENT UPDATE: Picture Tree International has officially secured international sales rights for the gripping hostage thriller “Last Call”, just ahead of its launch at the European Film Market (EFM). The highly anticipated film, inspired by true events, is set to debut its teaser today, generating buzz among international buyers.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sherif Francis, “Last Call” unfolds on New Year’s Eve 1999 in Athens, where a desperate fugitive armed with a live grenade seizes a family and demands to go live on television as the world counts down to the new millennium. The real-time drama captivates not only the nation but also a young journalist and a divided police force, leading to a tragic outcome broadcast live.
“This film interrogates the intersection of media influence, power dynamics, and institutional failure,” a spokesperson for Picture Tree stated. Francis co-wrote the script with Greek screenwriter Katerina Bei, aiming to recreate the urgency and unpredictability of the event he witnessed as a child.
The film features an ensemble cast including Orfeas Avgoustidis, Maria Nafpliotou, Yorgos Benos, and Dimitris Lalos. Produced by Dionyssis Samiotis for Tanweer Productions, “Last Call” was born from the company’s “Tanweer Pitching Days” initiative, standing out from over 300 submissions for its compelling real-time narrative and marketability.
Andreas Rothbauer, founder and managing partner at Picture Tree Intl., remarked, “‘Last Call’ immediately stood out to us for its gripping real-time structure and its true-event hook. It’s the kind of elevated European thriller that can travel strongly across theatrical and premium platforms.”
The film is set to hit domestic theaters in Greece and Cyprus on March 19, targeting a rollout of over 80 screens. The production is a collaboration among Tanweer Productions, ERT, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre – Creative Greece, NOVA, and View Master Films, receiving backing from EKKOMED.
This thrilling international co-production promises to engage audiences worldwide, exploring themes that resonate globally beyond its original setting. The urgency of the story, combined with its real-time narrative, makes “Last Call” a must-watch as it approaches its premiere.
Stay tuned for more updates as “Last Call” gears up for its international market debut, with the teaser now available for viewing.
