UPDATE: Picture Tree International has just announced it will handle international sales for the gripping hostage thriller “Last Call,” ahead of its highly anticipated launch at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin. The film, inspired by true events, is set to captivate global audiences with its real-time narrative.
Directed by acclaimed Greek-Egyptian filmmaker Sherif Francis, “Last Call” unfolds on New Year’s Eve 1999 in Athens. A desperate fugitive armed with a live grenade takes a family hostage, demanding to go live on television as the world approaches the new millennium. The intense situation draws in a young journalist, media executives, and a divided police force, all while an entire nation watches the events spiral toward a tragic conclusion.
“This film interrogates the intersection of media influence, power dynamics, and institutional failure—themes that resonate globally,” said Francis. He co-wrote the screenplay with Greek screenwriter Katerina Bei to evoke the same immediacy and uncertainty he felt as a child watching the real event unfold.
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” originated from the company’s “Tanweer Pitching Days” initiative, standing out among over 300 submissions.
Andreas Rothbauer, founder and managing partner at Picture Tree Intl., emphasized the film’s unique appeal: “‘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 is scheduled for March 19 in Greece and Cyprus, targeting a nationwide rollout across more than 80 screens. The film is produced in co-production with ERT, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre – Creative Greece, NOVA, and View Master Films, with the support of EKKOMED.
As the teaser debuts today, anticipation builds for a film that promises to engage and provoke audiences worldwide. The themes of media responsibility and the fallout from institutional failures resonate more than ever, making “Last Call” a must-watch in the current cinematic landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates as “Last Call” prepares for its international debut!
