New Palestinian and World Cinema Streamer Watermelon+ Launches with ‘The Teacher'
Watermelon+ comes on the heels of successful theatrical runs for the documentary 'The Encampments' and the feature debut for Oscar nominee Farah Nabulsi, 'The Teacher.' Nabulsi's Oscar-nominated short 'The Present' will also be available upon launch, while 'The Encampments' streams later this summer. Dozens of acclaimed films including 'From Ground Zero' (Palestine's Official 2025 Academy Awards entry) will be showcased on the platform, as well as Oscar nominees 'Omar' (2014 Best International Film), 'Five Broken Cameras' (2013 Best Documentary Feature), and 'Theeb' (2016 Best International Film).
More from IndieWire
How to Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Chaos
Neon Nabs Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord,' Starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve
Co-founded by CEOS and brothers Badie and Hamza Ali, Watermelon Pictures has set out to create a wider audience for Palestinian cinema, bringing forth gems that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Of this new initiative, Badie said in an official statement, 'Curating these films to ensure they had a proper home was a mission we were honored to begin and it's one we're committed to carrying forward. This is just the beginning. Our vision is to grow Watermelon+ into a must-have platform for underserved communities everywhere, a true home for bold, necessary storytelling that deserves to be seen.'
Hamza added, 'Watermelon+ isn't just a platform for films — it's a launchpad for the next generation of underserved artists whose stories will shape the future. It's not only a preservation of our past; it's fuel for our future.'
'The Encampments' was able to have a particular impact as its release coincided with the arrest and detainment of one of its subjects, Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of the Columbia University protests depicted in the documentary. In his review for IndieWire, Siddhant Adlakha wrote of the film, 'It ought to be no surprise that 'The Encampments' is a full-throated call to pro-Palestinian activism. What makes it artistically triumphant, however, is its sense of contemporary and historical detail, owed to both footage shot by the filmmakers, as well as by the protesters themselves.'
Supporters can watch and subscribe beginning today for $7.99 a month or $79.99 annually at watch.watermelonpictures.com/.Best of IndieWire
Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See
'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie
The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ariana DeBose mourns 'warrior queen' mother, Gina, who died of ovarian cancer
Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose is mourning the loss of her mother, Gina Michelle DeBose, who has died at age 57 after battling Stage 3 ovarian cancer. The "West Side Story" actor and Broadway star announced her mother's death Tuesday on Instagram, sharing photos of the two of them over the years — from the younger DeBose's childhood to her historic win at the Academy Awards in 2022. "I couldn't be more proud of her and how she fought this insidious disease over the past 3 years," DeBose wrote. Ariana DeBose, 34, said in her tribute that her mother was her "favorite person, my biggest fan and toughest critic. My best friend." The "Love Hurts" actor said her mother "fought like hell" to support her daughter's ambitions, adding that her accolades — which include BAFTA, Critics' Choice and Golden Globe awards — belong equally to her mother. Read more: Kate Beckinsale mourns mother Judy Loe, British actor who died at 78: 'Compass of my life' The actor said her mother was a longtime public school teacher who devoted her life to educating young people. She was "the greatest advocate" for arts education, she said, adding that the death of the elder DeBose would deeply impact her mother's community: "She was a force of epic proportion." Actors including "Abbott Elementary" star Quinta Brunson, "Insecure" alumna Yvonne Orji, former "Dancing With the Stars" pro Julianne Hough and celebrity fitness trainer Amanda Kloots rallied around DeBose in the comments section as she broke the news. In addition to paying tribute to her mother, DeBose highlighted several charities where supporters could donate in her mother's honor. "My greatest and most proud achievement will always be to have made her proud," DeBose wrote. "I love you mommy. Now travel amongst the seas, the winds and the angels as I know you always loved to do." Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Weapons' star Amy Madigan recalls why she and Ed Harris didn't clap for Elia Kazan at 1999 Oscars: 'Nope'
The "On the Waterfront" director received an Honorary Oscar for his career, decades after he testified at the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952. Key Points Weapons star Amy Madigan explained why she and husband Ed Harris didn't clap for Elia Kazan at 1999 Oscars. "There was no way we were going to do that," Madigan said in a new interview. Kazan, who directed On the Waterfront, testified at the House Un-American Activities Committee. Weapons actress Amy Madigan is currently courting Oscar buzz for her role as Aunt Gladys in the breakout horror hit, but she's also addressing an Academy Awards controversy she was present for nearly three decades ago. Following an introduction by Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese at the 1999 Oscars, stars like Warren Beatty and Kathy Bates were shown standing to applaud On the Waterfront director Elia Kazan's acceptance of an Honorary Award from inside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. However, a shot from the live broadcast showed Madigan and her husband, actor Ed Harris, looking stone-faced as they watched Kazan accept his statuette in the room. "Yeah, there was no way we were going to do that. No way," Madigan, 74, said during a recent interview with the New York Times, though the quote was not included in the final piece, and instead posted to social media by journalist Kyle Buchanan. Madigan touched on Kazan's House Un-American Activities Committee testimony in 1952 amid the blacklisting of Hollywood figures suspected of being communists during the Red Scare. "My father, who's not with us anymore, he was a political analyst and a journalist and he was working on Capitol Hill when McCarthyism was going on and it really, really affected him deeply," Madigan continued. "And yeah, that whole thing was really bringing it back to me. I was like, 'Nope.'" Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Madigan and Harris for additional comment. Kazan became a pariah in some Hollywood circles following his HUAC testimony, during which he named eight people who'd participated in Communist Party activities alongside him. In a 1997 interview with the Times, Kazan reflected on pushback he received over the years. "You want to know the truth? Not one bit," he said when asked if he was bothered by the anger against him nearly five decades after his HUAC testimony. "I've had so much praise in my life. Some of it deserved, some of it not deserved. What does it matter?'' Kazan continued, ''That whole time wasn't very nice. People were really hurt by what went on. I was part of it, I suppose. I spoke my mind and I had a right to do it.'' Though Kazan died in 2003 at 94, his Hollywood legacy lives on through his son, Matilda and Bicentennial Man writer Nicholas Kazan, and his actress granddaughters Maya (The Knick) and Zoe Kazan (Olive Kitteridge). In a recent interview with EW, Madigan additionally reflected on her Weapons success. Writer-director Zach Cregger's horror hit has earned $150 million at the global box office after only 10 days in release. "It's not that I discount it, but in this business, nothing's real till it's real," she said about the thought of returning for a sequel, comparing the buzz to chatter about her potential Oscar nod for the film. "I just had such a great time working with Zach and being inside that brain of his. That's really the gift of how the movie came out. The other stuff has to do with all sorts of conversations that I would never be privy in and business things like that. But, you know, I love Gladys, so I'll leave it at that." Weapons is now playing in theaters nationwide. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Austin Butler rescues Zoë Kravitz from rogue bee at ‘Caught Stealing' red carpet
Austin Butler is the bee whisperer. The Oscar-nominee, 34, stepped in to rescue his co-star Zoë Kravitz after the rogue insect buzzed around the starlet, 36, at the UK screening of their upcoming movie 'Caught Stealing' on Tuesday, August 19, in London, England. This is the second time he's intervened saved his colleagues from bees in the past three months. Scroll to see the entertaining pics! 1 of 9 Darren Aronofsky, Zoe Kravitz and Austin Butler contend with a bee at the UK Gala Screening of 'Caught Stealing' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 18, 2025 in London, England. Dave Benett/WireImage 2 of 9 Zoe Kravitz reacts to a bee next to Director Darren Aronofsky and cast member Austin Butler as they attend the UK Gala Screening of 'Caught Stealing' at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, in London, Britain August 19, 2025. REUTERS 3 of 9 The insect landed on Austin Butler instead of Zoe Kravtiz. FilmMagic 4 of 9 The two stars appeared shocked after it buzzed off instead of stinging them. Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP 5 of 9 Zoe Kravitz appeared terrified as the bee buzzed around her face. Getty Images 6 of 9 Dave Benett/WireImage 7 of 9 Darren Aronofsky and cast members Zoe Kravitz and Austin Butler could hardly hold their composure as the insect inched closer. REUTERS
