Watermelon Pictures Unveils Macklemore-Produced Doc ‘The Encampments' Featuring Detained Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil
The immersive work features exclusive footage and intimate interviews with the protesters, including prominent Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil who was arrested by U.S. immigration agents over the weekend as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists.
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The documentary is produced by Grammy Award-winning rap artist Macklemore and directed by Kei Pritsker, a journalist and producer at BreakThrough News, and award-winning filmmaker Michael T Workman (Meantime).
It will world premiere at the CPH:DOX documentary festival in Copenhagen on March 25, ahead of a U.S. nationwide theatrical release later this year.
The Columbia encampment began in April 2024 when nearly 50 students pitched tents on university grounds, beginning an occupation that would grow into a nationwide protest movement.
At the time, Israel's military campaign in Gaza – aimed at annihilating Hamas following its October 7, 2023 terror attack on Southern Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people, and freeing Israeli hostages – had resulted in the deaths of 34,000 people in the Palestinian territory, at least half of them women and children.
The documentary follows the dramatic escalation at the Columbia encampment, from the university administration's banning of student organizations for Palestine to the mass arrests that broke a 50-year police ban on campus.
As students faced police raids, media attacks, and institutional repression, their movement spread to universities across the country and beyond, making history in real time.
The documentary includes access to the student organizers at several encampments, and also a whistleblower from high-up in the administration of an ivy league university who shares exclusive insights into what was taking place within the halls of the ivory tower as students protested down below.
Khalil, who features in the documentary, was a lead negotiator between students and Columbia's administration. He is a Green Card holder and received a master's degree from Columbia's school of international affairs last term.
The New York Civil Liberties Union has described Khalil's detention as unlawful, retaliatory, an attack on free speech rights, and an act of McCarthyism.
'The Encampments is a testament to the courage of young people to not only imagine a better world but to fight for it in the face of violence and repression,' said directors Pritsker and Workman.
'This film challenges the dominant media narrative by revealing the true spirit of the encampments—what it felt like to be there, the emotions that fueled the students, and what motivated their drastic action. The Encampments is an exploration of what drives a generation to stand up and fight for change.'
Macklemore is a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights and has used his platform in recent months to call for a ceasefire and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, aligning his advocacy with the core message of the film.
'This is more than a student protest, it's a generational struggle for justice,' said Macklemore.
'Students have always led the charge for justice, from the sit-ins of the Civil Rights Movement to the campus protests against South African apartheid. They've never been on the wrong side of history. The encampments that started at Columbia are part of that legacy, inspiring millions of people around the world. The film ensures the students in U.S and Gaza are heard, their actions are remembered, and the fight for Palestinian liberation continues.'
Rooted in Palestinian culture and creativity, film production and distribution company Watermelon Pictures was launched last year by brothers Hamza Ali and Badie Ali, with Alana Hadid as Creative Director.
On its first year of business, Watermelon Pictures has garnered an Oscar shortlist for its film From Ground Zero, while its other acquisitions have included Gaza Director Mohamed Jabaly's Doc 'Life Is Beautiful'.
Founder and Co-CEO Hamza Ali emphasized the significance of The Encampments as part of the company's growing slate.
'The Encampments is not just a documentary—it's a crucial record of history unfolding before our eyes. We at Watermelon Pictures are honored to bring this story to the world and hope it inspires future generations to continue the fight for justice,'he said.
The Encampments is a BreakThrough News production in conjunction with Watermelon Pictures and Macklemore. Producers on the film include Pritsker, Workman, Matthew Belen, and Munir Atalla with Benjamin Becker serving as Executive Producer.
BreakThrough News is an independent media platform with over 1.85 million followers with a commitment to amplifying stories that challenge mainstream narratives and the voices of those fighting for change
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