Los Angeles, CA — March 13, 2026 — Buffalo 8 has set an April 10th theatrical release for “PH-1”, the contained thriller directed by and starring Mark Kassen (“Jobs,” “Before We Go,” “Puncture”). The film will open April 10th in a four-week limited run across Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C., followed by a May 8th North American digital release on major platforms including Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Verizon Fios, Hoopla, and Fandango at Home. Apple and Fandango at Home pre-orders begin April 10th.
Set inside a luxury penthouse over the course of one harrowing night, “PH-1” follows promising politician Payton Burnham (Kassen), who is held hostage by an unseen captor and forced to watch his reputation collapse in real time as social and traditional media weaponize speculation, spin, and viral outrage. As his public identity unravels, he races to uncover who is orchestrating the attack, and why. While political in setting, “PH-1” centers squarely on media: truth, misinformation, and the speed at which manipulated narratives can destroy a life.
The ensemble cast includes Abubakar Salim (“House of Dragons,” “Assassins Creed”), Dina Shihabi (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), Jesse L. Martin (“The Flash,” “Rent,” “Law & Order”), and Vinessa Shaw (“3:10 to Yuma,” “Eyes Wide Shut”). The screenplay is by Kassen and Cheryl Guerriero (“Palmer,” “Hunting Season”). Producers include Iliana Nikolic (“Machete,” “13”) and Kassen for Like Minded Entertainment, with Julian West executive producing.
The film rights were initially picked up at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) by Buffalo 8 Distribution.
Kassen is also co-founder of the bipartisan civic platform A Starting Point alongside Chris Evans, a connection that underscores the film’s focus on narrative accountability and public discourse.
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