Venice Winner ‘A Day In The Life Of Jo: Chapter Phaedra’ Gets North American Deal With 1-2 Special

EXCLUSIVE: 1-2 Special has acquired all North American rights to Jacqueline Lentzou’s A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra, which had its world premiere at the 2026 Venice Film Festival in Orizzonti, where it was awarded the Best Director Prize.

The film, which is among the first films to score a domestic deal out of Venice, recently had its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival, with upcoming appearances set for the BFI London Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Busan International Film Festival. 1-2 Special will release the film in theaters next year.

Inspired by true events from 2008, the well-received Greek drama “follows Jo (Evita Andriopoulou)—wild, melancholic, and only 15—whose ordinary life is about to be altered forever. Throughout the day, as she misses the school bus, attends class, and finds a new friend in classmate Phaedra, subtle signs and symbols from the dream world quietly surface around her, but she fails to recognize them before a shocking incident forces Jo to undergo an ethereal transformation.”

The deal was negotiated by Ola Byszuk of Lucky Number on behalf of the filmmakers with 1-2 Special.

The film is Jacqueline Lentzou’s second feature following Moon, 66 Questions, which played at the 2021 Berlinale and New Directors/New Films and which was awarded a Critic’s Pick by the New York Times.

Pic was produced by Avion Films (Annabelle Aronis), Atalante Productions (Ioanna Bolomyti), Kelek Film (Arda Çiltepe, Steffen Goldkamp), 4A4 Productions (Andrea Queralt), Haris & Co (Elli Papadiamanti), and Jacqueline Lentzou.