UPDATE: Picture Tree International has just announced its acquisition of international sales rights for the gripping hostage thriller “Last Call.” This film, inspired by true events, is set to launch to international buyers ahead of the upcoming European Film Market (EFM), with exclusive market premiere screenings.
Directed by Greek-Egyptian filmmaker Sherif Francis, “Last Call” is set against the tense backdrop of New Year’s Eve 1999 in Athens. It tells the real-time story of a desperate fugitive armed with a live grenade who takes a family hostage, demanding to go live on television as the world counts down to the new millennium. As the situation unfolds in real time, a young journalist, media executives, and a divided police force become embroiled in a high-stakes drama witnessed by an entire nation.
The film explores themes of media influence, power dynamics, and institutional failure—issues that resonate globally and are particularly relevant today. “With ‘Last Call,’ I aimed to evoke the same immediacy and uncertainty I felt as a child watching the real events unfold—no preparation, no escape, just the unpredictable pace of real time,” said Francis.
The ensemble cast features notable talents including Orfeas Avgoustidis (“Card Postale,” “The Other Me”), Maria Nafpliotou (“Café 404,” “Card Postale”), Yorgos Benos (“Maestro in Blue”), and Dimitris Lalos (“Chlorine,” “Pack of Sheep”). Produced by Dionyssis Samiotis for Tanweer Productions, “Last Call” emerged from the company’s “Tanweer Pitching Days,” standing out from over 300 submissions.
Andreas Rothbauer, founder and managing partner at Picture Tree International, expressed enthusiasm for the project: “‘Last Call’ immediately stood out to us for its gripping real-time structure, its true-event hook, and its international marketability. It’s the kind of elevated European thriller that can travel strongly across theatrical and premium platforms.”
The domestic theatrical release in Greece and Cyprus will be managed by Tanweer Alliances, targeting a nationwide rollout across over 80 screens starting on March 19. “Last Call” is a co-production involving ERT, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre – Creative Greece, NOVA, and View Master Films, with support from EKKOMED.
As the EFM approaches, the excitement surrounding “Last Call” continues to build. With its potent themes and real-time storytelling, this thriller is positioned to captivate audiences globally. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
