DZ
DefZone.Net

Kien thuc cong nghe & giai tri

Wiki Article

Watermelon Pictures

Nguồn dữ liệu từ Wikipedia, hiển thị bởi DefZone.Net

Xem trên WikipediaBài ngẫu nhiên khác
Watermelon Pictures
TypePrivate
IndustryFilm industry
FoundedApril 2024; 2 years ago (April 2024)
Founder
  • Hamza Ali
  • Badie Ali
Headquarters
Chicago
,
United States
Number of employees
20 (2025)[1]
ParentMPI Media Group[2]
Websitewatermelonpictures.com

Watermelon Pictures is an American film production and distribution company founded in 2024 by Badie and Hamza Ali. The company has distributed Israelism (2023), Life Is Beautiful (2023), From Ground Zero (2024), To a Land Unknown (2024), and The Encampments (2025).

History

[edit]

MPI Media Group, an independent distribution company, was founded by the brothers Malik Ali and Waleed Ali. Malik's sons Badie and Hamza Ali[3] launched Watermelon Pictures, a company specializing in film production, financing, and distribution, with Alana Hadid set to serve as creative director, in April 2024.[4][5][1] The mission of the company is to showcase Palestinians and Arabs, who they state have been poorly represented and dehumanized in mainstream media.[6][7] At the end of 2025 Hadid left the company.[8]

The company's first release Walled Off, a documentary focusing on The Walled Off Hotel, directed by Vin Arfuso, and executive produced by Roger Waters, Kweku Mandela and Anwar Hadid was released on May 3, 2024.[9] Watermelon Pictures launched a streaming service in May 2025 dubbed Watermelon+.[10] The service secured the rights to 70 films including, Omar, 5 Broken Cameras and Theeb".[11]

Credits

[edit]
List of films
Release Title Notes Ref(s)
May 3, 2024 Walled Off U.S. distribution [9]
June 7, 2024 Israelism North American distribution [12]
November 15, 2024 Life Is Beautiful North American distribution [13]
January 3, 2025 From Ground Zero North American distribution [14]
March 28, 2025 The Encampments Co-production with BreakThrough News and distribution [15]
April 4, 2025 The Teacher U.S. distribution [16]
July 11, 2025 To a Land Unknown North American distribution [17][18]
August 8, 2025 Sudan, Remember Us U.S. distribution [19]
August 15, 2025 The Glassworker U.S. distribution [20]
October 7, 2025 Pistachio Wars Worldwide distribution [21]
November 20, 2025 Shoot the People Worldwide distribution [22]
November 28, 2025 All That's Left of You North American distribution [23]
December 17, 2025 The Voice of Hind Rajab Produced "in association with" [24]
February 6, 2026 White Man Walking North American distribution [25]
February 13, 2026 Palestine 36 North American distribution [26]
April 17, 2026 Mārama North American distribution with Dark Sky Films [27]

Upcoming

[edit]
List of upcoming films
Release Title Notes Ref(s)
2026 Who Killed Alex Odeh? North American distribution [28]
2026 The Six Billion Dollar Man North American distribution [29]
2026 Landscapes of Memory North American distribution [30]
2026 El Sett North American distribution [31]
2026 Roqia U.S distribution [32]
2026 American Doctor North American distribution [33]
TBA There Was, There Was Not U.S. digital distribution [34]
TBA Traces of Home North American distribution [35]
TBA Who Is Still Alive American distribution [36]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Minton, Matt (May 2, 2025). "Seeds of Change: How Palestinian-Owned Watermelon Pictures Is Creating Space for Underseen Perspectives". Variety. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  2. ^ Roxborough, Scott (February 12, 2026). ""We'll Put Out the Films That Others Won't": Inside Watermelon Pictures' Fearless Bet on Political Cinema". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 13, 2026. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  3. ^ Reiss 2025, p. 121.
  4. ^ "Watermelon Pictures Launches, Alana Hadid Named Creative Director". PR Newswire. April 4, 2024. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  5. ^ Bedirian, Razmig (July 10, 2024). "How Alana Hadid's Watermelon Pictures aims to 'dispel the propaganda' against Palestinians". The National. Archived from the original on February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  6. ^ Issawi, Danya (June 11, 2024). "Alana Hadid Wants to Build the "Palestinian A24"". The Cut. Archived from the original on February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  7. ^ "Alana Hadid on reclaiming the Palestinian narrative through art and film". TRT World. July 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  8. ^ Ntim, Zac (January 6, 2026). "Alana Hadid Joins Feature Doc 'Seeds For Liberation' As Executive Producer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  9. ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (April 4, 2024). "Alana Hadid Leading Film Label Watermelon Pictures, First Movie Is Palestine Documentary 'Walled Off'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  10. ^ Dalton, Ben (May 2, 2025). "Palestinian film streaming platform Watermelon+ to launch worldwide". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on January 3, 2026. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  11. ^ Horton, Adrian (14 May 2025). "'We need to do something': the company releasing Palestinian films no one else will". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  12. ^ Ritman, Alex (May 10, 2024). "'Israelism' Documentary, About Jewish Attitudes Toward Israel, Lands U.S. Distributor (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 1, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  13. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 19, 2024). "Alana Hadid's Watermelon Pictures Takes North America For Gaza Director Mohamed Jabaly's Doc 'Life Is Beautiful'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  14. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (October 7, 2024). "TIFF Gaza Anthology 'From Ground Zero' Acquired By Watermelon Pictures For North America". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 10, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  15. ^ Dalton, Ben (May 8, 2025). "US student protests documentary 'The Encampments' acquired for Cannes sales". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  16. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (February 3, 2025). "Timely Palestinian Drama 'The Teacher' Lands U.S. Distribution Deal Amid Fragile Ceasefire in Gaza (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  17. ^ Hopewell, John (September 8, 2024). "Watermelon Takes Mahdi Fleifel's Cannes Directors' Fortnight Hit 'To a Land Unknown' for North America (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.}
  18. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (July 11, 2025). "Immigrants And Influencers: Evocative Cannes' Premieres 'To A Land Unknown' & 'Wild Diamond' Debut In Limited Release – Specialty Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  19. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (July 17, 2025). "'Sudan, Remember Us' Trailer: Watermelon Pictures Sets August Release For Doc Paying Tribute To Youthful Pro-Democracy Activism". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  20. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 15, 2025). "Watermelon Pictures Acquires U.S. Rights For Pakistani Animation 'The Glassworker'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  21. ^ Roxborough, Scott (August 13, 2025). "Watermelon Pictures to Release Environmental Doc 'Pistachio Wars' Worldwide". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  22. ^ Ritman, Alex (November 11, 2025). "Misan Harriman Doc 'Shoot the People' Bought by Watermelon Pictures for Worldwide Rights, Sets AFM Launch (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 11, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  23. ^ Roxborough, Scott (August 26, 2025). "Watermelon Pictures, Visibility Films Acquire Jordan Oscar Contender 'All That's Left of You' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  24. ^ Carey, Matthew (April 2, 2026). "'The Voice Of Hind Rajab' To Stream On Hulu In U.S." Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  25. ^ Ntim, Zac (January 8, 2026). "Watermelon Pictures Acquires North American Rights To Feature Doc 'White Man Walking' About A Man Who Marched 1,500 Miles With A Black Lives Matter Shirt". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  26. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (January 12, 2026). "Annemarie Jacir's Oscar Shortlisted 'Palestine 36' Gets U.S. Release Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 12, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  27. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 3, 2025). "Dark Sky Films Teams With Watermelon Pictures For North America Release Of TIFF Movie 'Mārama' With Ariāna Osborne & Toby Stephens". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  28. ^ Minton, Matt (June 12, 2026). "'Who Killed Alex Odeh?' Acquired by Watermelon Pictures for North America After Winning Sundance Documentary Award (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  29. ^ Lang, Brent (November 10, 2025). "Julian Assange Documentary 'The Six Billion Dollar Man' Sells to Watermelon Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  30. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (March 5, 2026). "Watermelon Pictures Takes World For 'Landscapes Of Memory' Doc Exploring Weaponization Of Holocaust Remembrance". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 5, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  31. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (June 30, 2026). "Watermelon Pictures Takes North America For Umm Kulthum Biopic 'El Sett'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  32. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (December 11, 2025). "Red Sea Competition psychological thriller 'Roqia' sells to US". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on June 14, 2026. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  33. ^ Carey, Matthew (2026-07-09). "'American Doctor' Unveils Trailer, Sets Theatrical Release Date; Award-Winning Film Follows U.S. Physicians Who Treated Children Badly Wounded In Gaza". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
  34. ^ Barraclough, Leo (August 13, 2025). "Armenian Documentary 'There Was, There Was Not' Acquired in U.S. by Suncatcher, Watermelon (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  35. ^ De La Fuente, Anna Marie (November 12, 2025). "John Leguizamo, Melissa Barrera Board Watermelon Pictures Pick-up 'Traces of Home' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 12, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  36. ^ Scott Roxborough (13 August 2026). "Oscars: Switzerland Picks Gaza Doc 'Who is Still Alive' as Best International Feature Submission". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 August 2026.

Works cited

[edit]
[edit]