Gaza coming-of-age drama gets North American distribution

Palestinian director Hossam Abu Dan’s feature debut has been acquired by Watermelon Pictures for full North American distribution rights after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.The film entered the “Central Screening” unit of this year's Toronto Film Festival. Watermelon Pictures is mainly engaged in the distribution and production of Palestinian and Arab films.

The film tells the story of 13-year-old Lagarde.After losing her home and most of her family in a bombing, she lived with her father in a displacement camp in Gaza.Lagarde is entering adolescence, and the privacy, security and freedom of ordinary children that she should have in daily life have become difficult to obtain. Her father must try to protect her and make difficult choices for their survival.

The synopsis of the story given in the report puts growth and family on the same narrative line.Lagarde faces the changes brought about by her body and age, and her father faces the practical problem of how to take care of his daughter and maintain his life.The film unfolds through the situation of the father and daughter, and the story is set in the Gaza Strip.

This work was shot entirely in the Gaza Strip. It is the first feature film to be shot and produced locally in 12 years, and the first feature film to be produced locally since the war began in 2023.The producer stated that the film was completed by a team composed entirely of Palestinians. The team suffered air strikes during the filming process, and the final footage was saved on two memory cards.

Abu Dan also served as producer and editor, and the script was written by Khalil Muzayan.Hanna Atala serves as executive producer, Yusuf Masarawi serves as director of photography, and the production company is New Scene for Media Production.This is the feature directorial debut for Abu Dan, who has previously worked on documentaries and TV series.

Abu Dan is a Palestinian director living in Gaza.The film was produced by a local team, and the main creative list also includes screenwriters, photographers, executive producers and other positions. Relevant work information was announced together with the film festival premiere news.

Munir Atala, head of production and acquisitions at Watermelon Pictures, closed the deal on behalf of the distributor, with executive producer Hanna Atala participating on behalf of the film team.The publishing company stated that it will announce its North American distribution plan in the coming months.The deal covers all North American rights.

"This is a film about childhood, family, and how people continue to live after their normal lives are taken away from them," the distributor said in a statement.The plot that has been revealed focuses on Lagarde's relationship with her father and their situation in camp life.

Watermelon Pictures was established in 2024 and has continued to produce or distribute feature films by Palestinian and Arab creators in recent years.After the company took over the North American distribution this time, information such as the film's premiere in Toronto, the creative team and production methods also received attention.

The currently confirmed distribution information is that Watermelon Pictures has acquired full North American rights, and specific release arrangements will be announced by the company in the coming months.The film has completed its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival's % Center Screening Unit, and the transaction news was also announced during the film festival.