After winning the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Excellence at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the investigative documentary “Who Killed Alex Odeh?” has been acquired by Watermelon Pictures for North American distribution.
Directed and produced by Jason Osder and William Lafi Youmans, the film tells the true story of Alex Odeh, a Palestinian American teacher and civil rights activist who was killed when a tripwire bomb exploded in his office. An official synopsis reads: “As the investigation deepens, the story broadens into an examination of the Jewish extremist networks behind the attack and the institutional failures that allowed those responsible to evade justice. Through archival footage, firsthand testimony, and original reporting, the film traces how the ideology that fueled Odeh’s murder evolved over time and continues to shape political discourse today.”
In a joint statement, Osder and Youmans expressed their excitement to work with Watermelon Pictures: “We are thrilled to partner with a distributor that understands the gripping true crime nature of this story, its historical significance, and its relevance today. We hope the film sparks new conversations about accountability, memory, and justice.”
After Sundance, “Alex Odeh” had its international premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival and will play at DC/DOX this weekend. To date, the film has also landed deals in Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia and Spain.
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The distribution deal was negotiated by Watermelon’s head of productions and acquisitions Munir Atalla and producers Dawne Langford and Daniel J. Chalfen. Watermelon Pictures plans to release the film theatrically later this year.
Recent Watermelon Pictures titles include the Oscar-shortlisted “Palestine 36” and “All That’s Left of You.”
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