EXCLUSIVE: Watermelon Photos has acquired North American distribution rights for Palestinian director Mohamed Jabaly’s documentary Life Is Lovely about his experiences after he turned stranded in Norway in 2014 when Gaza’s borders had been shut indefinitely.
The distribution settlement, which incorporates all North American theatrical and ancillary rights, was negotiated in Cannes by Munir Atalla, head of Manufacturing and Acquisitionat Watermelon Photos and Esther van Messel of First Hand Movies.
Jabaly was attending a movie pageant in Tromsø in 2014, when the borders to Gaza closed. Little did he know that it could be seven years earlier than he may see his household once more.
Whereas ready for the scenario to alter, Mohamed’s associates again dwelling inform him to hunt asylum or get married to remain in Norway. However Mohamed refuses to surrender his Palestinian identification and insists on being acknowledged for his work.
After being denied a piece allow after a number of appeals, regardless of his movie Ambulance gaining worldwide success, he decides to take his case to courtroom backed by a rising group of supporters. As this unfolds, Mohamed lives a parallel life on-line, staying linked with household in Gaza.
The movie received the very best director prize on the Worldwide Movie Pageant Amsterdam (IDFA) final 12 months and is presently travelling the movie pageant circuit.
“Now greater than ever it’s crucial that we carry the voices of Gazan filmmakers to North American audiences. With heartfelt humor and brave optimism, Jabaly provides us a singular window into Gaza that’s an antidote to the headlines of this inconceivable time,” mentioned Watermelon’s Atalla.
“Mohamed Jabaly is the uncommon expertise everyone all the time seems to be for: political and poetical, together with his storytelling that makes you snicker, cry, fall in love and study one thing,” mentioned Esther Van Messel. “We’re past proud to work with him and the staff at Stray Canines and now to have entry additionally to North American audiences with the great Watermelon Photos.”
Life Is Lovely was produced by KriStine Skaret and Sarah Winge-Sørensen for Stray Canine Productions with Mohanad Yaqubi, Esther van Messel, Anne Fabini serving as Government Producers.
Rooted in Palestinian tradition and creativity, Watermelon Photos, was based in April by brothers Badie Ali and Hamza Ali, with Hadid main the staff as Inventive Director, with the intention of amplifying voices of underrepresented filmmakers.