EXCLUSIVE: Watermelon Pictures has acquired international sales rights to US student protests documentary The Encampments, and will launch the title at the Cannes market next week.
Munir Atalla will conduct sales on the film for Watermelon, which is making its Cannes sales debut with a suite at the market.
The Encampments depicts the student protest movement at Columbia University against the war in Gaza, that sparked an uprising in solidarity with the Palestinian people at campuses across the country and led to students confronting universities’ financial ties to the US and Israeli arms industries.
The film is directed by Michael T. Workman and Kei Pritsker, and features detained student activist Mahmoud Khalil, who is currently at risk of deportation from the US after a ruling from a Louisiana judge last month.
The film is produced by Pritsker, Workman, Matthew Belen and Atalla for BreakThrough News and Watermelon Pictures, with executive producers including Benjamin Becker and Grammy award-winning music artist Macklemore.
After a world premiere at CPH:DOX, Watermelon released the film theatrically in the US in March this year, grossing $80,000 on its opening weekend and with almost $500,000 to date from its limited release.
The Encampments will later become available on Watermelon Pictures’ streaming platform Watermelon+, which launches worldwide today.
“This film isn’t just about the American student movement—it’s about a generation taking a stand worldwide,” said Atalla, while Justin DiPietro, EVP of Watermelon Pictures, said the US box office result proved “a strong appetite for politically conscious storytelling.
“Distributors and exhibitors around the world are responding to the film’s urgent themes—youth-led resistance, institutional accountability, and cross-border solidarity—which resonate deeply with global audiences,” said DiPietro.
Watermelon Pictures was founded last year by brothers Hamzi Ali and Badie Ali, with Alana Hadid as creative director. With a focus on Palestinian culture and creativity, its film From Ground Zero made the best international feature Oscar shortlist as the Palestinian entry.
No comments yet