Hasan Oswald’s documentary “Mediha” tells the story of a Yazidi girl seeking justice after being kidnapped by ISIS and forced into slavery. Together Films will release the film in theaters in the U.S. and UK. The documentary won the DOC NYC Grand Jury Award last year and will premiere in the U.S. on October 11 and in the UK on November 15.
The film chronicles a young survivor’s journey to find her missing family members. Mediha, the protagonist, uses her own camera to process her trauma and document her experiences in Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. Through her personal video diaries, she confronts her trauma and seeks justice against her captors.
Emma Thompson is the executive producer of the project, which will have its U.S. premiere at New York’s Film Forum on October 11 in honor of International Day of the Girl Child. The film will then open in L.A. at the Laemmie Royal on October 18, followed by releases in other major U.S. cities from October 25. Together Films aims to launch an awards campaign targeting the Academy Awards and BAFTA for the documentary categories. The filmmakers have also developed an impact campaign to raise awareness about the Yazidi crisis, which has left 3,000 people missing, and to support Mediha’s quest for justice.
Hasan Oswald stated, “We have received incredible feedback from audiences during 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 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, expressed, “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.”
Jason Loftus, an executive producer, commented, “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, stated, “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.”
