In April 2024, brothers Hamza and Badee Ali launched Watermelon Pictures with a mission that transcends typical film distribution. Born from the aftermath of October 7th, this company isn't just sharing movies—it's reclaiming a narrative that has been twisted for decades. As Hamza explains in a recent interview, "Watermelon isn't driven by financial success... it's humanizing our people. It's liberation really, that's driving us."
The company's name carries deep significance. Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israeli authorities banned the Palestinian flag and its colors in Gaza and the West Bank. In response, Palestinians turned to the watermelon—its red flesh, green rind, black seeds, and white interior naturally displaying the forbidden colors of their flag.
This symbolism gained prominence after a pivotal 1979 encounter at a Ramallah art gallery. When Israeli officials warned Palestinian artists against using the flag's colors, one officer declared, "Even if you paint a watermelon, we will confiscate it." This threat inadvertently transformed the fruit into a powerful symbol of resistance that continues today.
In just over a year, Watermelon Pictures has achieved remarkable success. Their documentary "The Encampments," about pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, broke the per-theater-average record previously held by National Geographic's "Free Solo," grossing nearly $80,000 in its opening weekend at New York's Angelika Film Center.
The company has also distributed "From Ground Zero," an anthology film featuring 22 Palestinian directors that made the Academy Awards shortlist for Best International Film. These achievements are particularly striking given Hollywood's long history of marginalizing Arab voices.
For generations, Hollywood has portrayed Arabs primarily as villains or terrorists. According to research published by ThoughtCo, even before the 9/11 attacks, films and television shows frequently depicted Arabs as "misogynistic brutes with backward and mysterious customs." This stereotyping has had real-world consequences, including hate crimes, racial profiling, and discrimination.
When Disney released "Aladdin" in 1992, the opening song declared that Aladdin came from a place "where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home." After protests from Arab American groups, Disney changed the lyrics—but the damage was done.
Watermelon Pictures isn't just distributing films—it's creating an entire media ecosystem. In May 2025, they launched Watermelon+, a subscription-based streaming platform that preserves Palestinian films from the past three decades. They've also started a podcast called "The Seeds" with Creative Director Alana Hadid.
"We came to the realization that we are the only Arab-led North American distribution company," Badee Ali told Variety. "We should use our platform to do this for ourselves—we can't wait for somebody else."
What makes the Watermelon Pictures story particularly powerful is how it builds on family history. The Ali brothers' father and uncle founded MPI Media Group in 1976 after returning from Palestine during the 1967 war. Now, decades later, their sons are using that same business infrastructure to tell Palestinian stories at a time when it takes real courage.
As Hamza reflects, "We all, including myself... fall guilty of keeping our heads down and going through the motions. And of course, October 7th and the aftermath, it woke us up."
In a media landscape where Palestinian perspectives are often silenced, Watermelon Pictures offers something revolutionary: authentic stories told by the people who live them. Their motto says it all: "From the river to the screen, Palestine will be seen."
Sources:
1. Variety (2025, May 2). "Seeds of Change: How Palestinian-Owned Watermelon Pictures Is Creating Space for Underseen Perspectives." https://variety.com/2025/film/news/watermelon-pictures-palestinian-owned-the-encampments-1236368970/
2.NPR (2024, January 8 ). "Why watermelons are a symbol of Palestinian solidarity." https://www.npr.org/2024/01/08/1222718339/why-watermelons-are-symbol-of-palestinian-solidarity
3.ThoughtCo (2025, May 13 ). "Common Arab Stereotypes in TV and Film." https://www.thoughtco.com/tv-film-stereotypes-arabs-middle-easterners-2834648
4.Mideast Journal (2025, August 14 ). "How the Watermelon Became An Unlikely Symbol For the Pro-Palestinian Movement." https://www.mideastjournal.org/post/how-the-watermelon-became-palestine-s-unlikely-symbol
5. Watermelon Pics. www.watermelonpictures.com
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