Watermelon Pictures has officially acquired the U.S. distribution rights to The Glassworker, Pakistan’s first-ever hand-drawn animated feature. The critically acclaimed film, directed by Usman Riaz, was also Pakistan’s official entry for both Best International Feature and Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.
The distribution deal was sealed during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, with negotiations led by Hamza Ali for Watermelon Pictures and Hélène Espeisse on behalf of Charades, the sales agent representing the film at Marché du Film (Cannes Film Market), as reported by Deadline.
Hamza Ali, co-founder of Watermelon Pictures, shared his excitement:
“The Glassworker is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful story that will deeply resonate with audiences of all ages. We are proud to bring this cinematic masterpiece to U.S. theatres.”
Producer Khizer Riaz added:
“We are overjoyed that The Glassworker will have a theatrical release in the United States through Watermelon Pictures. Their fast-paced growth and commitment to meaningful storytelling make them the ideal partner to introduce our film to American audiences.”
The film, written and directed by Usman Riaz under the banner of Mano Animation Studios, premiered in Pakistan on July 26, 2024, following years of meticulous development.
Set in a fictional, war-torn land, The Glassworker follows the life of Vincent Oliver, a young artisan glassmaker, and his evolving relationship with Alliz Amano, a gifted violinist. Amidst the backdrop of conflict, the two navigate the challenges of growing up, chasing dreams, and dealing with the devastating effects of war.
Watermelon Pictures, founded in April 2024 by brothers Hamza and Badie Ali, with model and activist Alana Hadid as creative director, has quickly positioned itself as a distributor focused on impactful storytelling.
According to its official website, the company aims to enrich the global cinematic landscape by highlighting under-represented voices, particularly those from Palestinian and other marginalised communities.
At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the company also unveiled Watermelon+, a new streaming platform dedicated to amplifying Palestinian stories and perspectives for international audiences.
The launch coincided with tragic developments in Gaza, where over 100 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including at least 80 in a single day. Badie Ali emphasised the importance of representation:
“If we don’t amplify Palestinian voices, nothing will change,” said Badie.
The platform has about 60 films, and several of them are set in Gaza.
