French sales company Other Angle has acquired the rights to “PH-1,” a tech-driven political thriller featuring Mark Kassen, Abubakar Salim, Dina Shihabi, Vinessa Shaw, and Jesse L. Martin.
Mark Kassen, who is both an actor and filmmaker, directed the film from a script he co-wrote with Cheryl Guerriero. He produced the movie alongside Iliana Nikolic under his production company, Like Minded Entertainment.
“PH-1” tells the story of a politician with a bright future who becomes trapped in his luxurious penthouse by a remote captor. As he is forced to witness his life unravel through social and traditional media, he embarks on a quest to escape while trying to uncover who framed him and why.
Kassen, known for directing films such as “Puncture” and “Before We Go,” described “PH-1” as relevant to today’s cultural climate. He noted that it reflects themes of skepticism toward government, media manipulation, racial inequality, and a feeling of a “rigged system.”
Kassen characterized the film as a modern political thriller that resonates with current issues surrounding media and governance.
The production team created a “technology ecosystem” for the film, incorporating phones, screens, and TVs that were triggered live during scenes. This allowed actors to interact with the media controlling their characters in real time.
Olivier Albou from Other Angle emphasized that “PH-1” is not only suspenseful but also gritty, offering insight into modern politics and its relationship with technology. He stated that the film illustrates how these issues affect how people perceive news and make voting decisions. Albou added that it is compelling to see a politician trapped in a system from which he must escape.
Other Angle is launching sales for “PH-1” at the American Film Market.
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