'Roqia'

Source: Watermelon Pictures

‘Roqia’

EXCLUSIVE: Watermelon Pictures has acquired US distribution rights to Algerian filmmaker Yanis Koussim’s debut feature Roqia, which had its MENA premiere in competition at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival this week.

Watermelon is scheduling a theatrical release in the US for late 2026.

France’s Alphaviolet handles world sales on the film, which had its world premiere in the independent Critics’ Week sidebar at Venice Film Festival in September. 

The slow-burn psychological thriller juxtaposes stories in two timelines – a 1993 car crash that leaves a man bandaged and with amnesia and a present-day ageing Raqi battling Alzheimer’s.

It stars Ali Namous, Akram Djeghim, Mostefa Djadjam, Hanaa Mansour, Lydia Hanni, and Abdelkrim Derradji. Fares Ladjimi of France’s Supernova Films produces in co-production with 19, Mulholland Drive Production.

Since its Venice premiere, the film has made its rounds on the global festival circuit with stops at Sitges; Leeds International Film Festival, where it won a jury award; and Thessaloniki International Film Festival, where Koussim won the best director award.

Munir Atalla, head of production and acquisitions for Watermelon Pictures, said of the film: “Yanis Koussim has crafted a bold and unforgettable film, and we’re committed to giving his powerful work the platform it deserves.”

“With their focus on poignant global stories and their unique genre experience, we can’t think of a better home for this film than Watermelon Pictures,” said Alphaviolet founder Virginie Devesa. ”We’re thrilled for their audience to watch this film, which we know will resonate with all those who know that the ghosts of violence live on past the deed itself.”

Topics