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3 weeks ago
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EXCLUSIVE: Hasan Oswald’s Mediha, a documentary about a Yazidi girl’s quest for justice after she was kidnapped by ISIS and sold into slavery, is getting a U.S. and UK theatrical release through Together Films. The film, which was the winner of the DOC NYC Grand Jury Award last year, is set for an October 11 release in the U.S. and a November 15 release in the UK.
The film follows the journey of one girl’s fight to find her missing family members, revealing the strength of a young survivor. Mediha turns the camera on herself to process her trauma after surviving captivity from ISIS and it captures her resilience as she documents her experiences across Iraq, Turkey and Syria. Through her personal video diaries, she confronts her trauma and pursues justice against her captors.
Emma Thompson exec produces the project, which is set to have a U.S. premiere at New York’s Film Forum on October 11, to honor International Day of the Girl Child. Following this, the film will open in L.A. at the Laemmie Royal on October 18, before expanding to other major U.S. cities from October 25. Together Films is planning an awards campaign, targeting the Academy Awards and BAFTA for the documentary categories. Together Films and its filmmakers have developed an impact campaign to raise awareness about the Yazidi crisis, where 3,000 people remain missing, and to support Mediha’s quest for justice.
“We have received incredible feedback from audiences from our extensive festival run since winning the Grand Jury Prize at DOC NYC,” said Oswald in a statement. “It’s a dream come true to have the film open theatrically across the U.S. and UK. The journey to this point has been intense and deeply emotional, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see Mediha’s story reach the wider world.”
Mediha Alhamad, the film’s protagonist and cinematographer, said: “Before we made the film, I couldn’t talk about my trauma with anyone, and I felt completely alone and hopeless. When Hasan gave me the camera, it immediately became my best friend. My biggest hope now is that audiences will continue watching the film and learning about my community, the Yazidi people, who are still suffering and in need of support more than ever. I hope that this film inspires more people to get involved in the Yazidi cause and help us fight for justice.”
Exec producer Jason Loftus added: “The Yazidi plight has faded from headlines, but the community is still reeling from the genocide. Mediha powerfully and beautifully refocuses a light on their cause. It’s a call to action and a deeply moving example of participatory filmmaking.”
Sarah Mosses, Founder and CEO of Together Films, added: “Mediha represents the kind of impactful storytelling that we are passionate about at Together Films. It’s an honor to help bring this important story to theaters in the U.S. and UK, and to support the ongoing awareness campaign for the Yazidi community. We believe this film will resonate with audiences and spark meaningful conversations.”
