Together Films have announced the theatrical release of Hasan Oswald’s MEDIHA, the winner of the DOC NYC Grand Jury Award, set for October 11 in the USA and November 15 in the UK.
A powerful testament to the human spirit, MEDIHA follows the remarkable journey of one girl’s fight to find her missing family members, revealing the strength of a young survivor. Mediha, a teenage Yazidi girl, turns her camera on herself to process her trauma after surviving captivity from ISIS. The film, executive produced by Emma Thompson, has been making waves on the international film circuit since its world premiere at DOC NYC last year.
The documentary will have its US premiere at New York’s Film Forum on October 11, to honor International Day of the Girl Child. Following its New York debut, MEDIHA will open in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Royal on October 18, before expanding to other major US cities beginning October 25. UK audiences can look forward to a series of Q&A previews before the official release on November 15. The film will also be part of an awards campaign targeting the Academy Awards and BAFTA in the documentary categories.
Speaking of the upcoming release, Director Hasan Oswald said, “We have received incredible feedback from audiences from our extensive festival run since winning the Grand Jury Prize at DOC NYC. It’s a dream come true to have the film open theatrically across the US & 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.”
Over three years, the film captures Mediha’s resilience as she documents her experiences across Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. Through her personal video diaries, she bravely confronts her trauma and pursues justice against her captors. MEDIHA sheds light on the ongoing plight of the Yazidi people, coming a decade after the genocide inflicted by ISIS. In alignment with the film’s release, the filmmakers and Together Films 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.
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.”
Executive Producer Jason Loftus directed Canada’s 2023 Oscar entry, ETERNAL SPRING, and was executive producer of last year’s Oscar-nominated TO KILL A TIGER. He said, “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 US 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.”
Find out more about the film and its impact campaign by visiting medihafilm.com
