LOS ANGELES, CA – Greek sisters Ioanna and Areti Spanomarkou, award-winning writers, composers, founders of production company Strofinx, and Recording Academy members, are developing a new independent feature film titled ‘The Lost Oracle of Trophonius’, an international adventure-thriller with a global appeal and strong cultural core.
Set to film across archaeological sites in Greece and studio locations in Romania, the film weaves mythology, history, and suspense into a gripping contemporary adventure.
It follows a Greek-American archaeology professor who embarks on a modern-day quest to uncover the lost underground Oracle of Trophonius, and with it, the legendary Panacea, an ancient remedy believed to cure all illness. At the heart of the mission lies the desperate hope of saving a young girl suffering from a rare and incurable disease.
Inspired by films such as the Indiana Jones series, ‘National Treasure’, and ‘The Da Vinci Code’, the story is character-driven, involving mystery and deep emotional undercurrents.
“This isn’t part of the Greek ‘weird wave’, a style that often comes to mind when international audiences hear ‘Greek cinema’ lately,” the Spanomarkou sisters clarify. “This is a mainstream, cinematic adventure, a culturally rich production made to resonate with international audiences of all ages, targeted to bring strong box office appeal.”
As Ioanna and Areti say, the film aims to spotlight lesser-known but historically significant archaeological sites and beautiful landscapes and towns across Greece, and to awaken interest for Ancient Greece, history, classical education, and the arts, especially among younger audiences.
Video of the film’s shooting locations is available on YouTube:https://shorturl.at/virGu.
“Just as ‘Indiana Jones’ ignited our passion for archaeology, ‘Jurassic Park’ rekindled a generation’s awe for the prehistoric world, ‘Gattaca’ invited reflections on the ethics of genetic science, and ‘Velvet Goldmine’ explored the ties between identity, music, and society, ‘The Lost Oracle of Trophonius’ wishes to do the same for history, discovery, and culture,” the creators add.
As part of their initiative to amplify the film’s cultural resonance, the Spanomarkou sisters met with Deputy Minister of Culture Jason Fotilas, responsible for Contemporary Culture. The discussion focused on ways to spotlight Greece’s archaeological sites and museums through the film’s narrative.
Currently in pre-production, ‘The Lost Oracle of Trophonius’ is a moderate budget film being co-produced between Strofinx and U.S. partners. It was submitted for Greece’s cash rebate program, which is currently pending due to the recent merger of EKOME with the Greek Film Centre.
The production is currently assembling a high-caliber European creative team. At the helm is director Antonis Sotiropoulos, the first Greece-based filmmaker to have a feature released on Netflix and with a seasoned television director over 500 episodes to his credit.
Romanian cinematographer Viorel Sergovici is attached as Director of Photography, bringing his signature visual craftsmanship to the project. The production design is expected to be led by Martin Laing (‘Titanic’, ‘Clash of the Titans’, ‘City of Ember’), whose involvement would add a bold, cinematic scope to the film’s aesthetic.
Written by the Spanomarkou sisters, the screenplay is inspired by their in-depth personal research into the real, still-undiscovered geographical location of the Oracle of Trophonius, an ancient temple that still remains like a holy grail for the archaeologists to discover.
As award-winning composers with over 200 released tracks (some of which have been Grammy-considered) and music featured in Netflix and Apple TV productions such as ‘Greed’ and ‘Ted Lasso’, the Spanomarkou sisters will also compose the film’s original score.
Their music blends cinematic blockbuster energy with moody undertones, enriched by their signature ethnic-Mediterranean flair. Members of the Recording Academy (New York Chapter) and the World Soundtrack Awards community, the Spanomarkou sisters bring artistry and global recognition to the project.
Casting of the film is ongoing with a focus on attaching international actors who feel a personal connection to Greek history and heritage such as Louis Mandylor (‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’, ‘Debt Collectors’). Mandylor has expressed interest to participate in any Spanomarkou project. The film is planned for festival and theatrical release, with strong potential for international streaming distribution.
For inquiries, collaborations, or investment opportunities, contact: [email protected].
