Ghazi Shami, Founder and CEO of leading U.S. independent record label Empire, has signed on as an executive producer on American Doctor, Poh Si Teng‘s Sundance documentary about three American physicians —one Palestinian, one Jewish, one Zoroastrian — who travel to Gaza to provide medical care in the middle of a war zone.
Shami announced the collaboration, together with Badie and Hamza Ali, co-founders of Watermelon Pictures, which is releasing American Doctor in North America, at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday night. Autlook Filmsales is handling international sales on the film and presenting to buyers at the Cannes market.
This American Doctor tie-in marks follows Empire and Watermelon Pictures’ collaboration on Palestine 36. Shami was an executive producer on Annemarie Jacir’s Oscar-shortlisted drama, and Empire compiled a 36-track companion soundtrack for the movie. Watermelon co-produced Palestine 36, a period drama set during the Arab revolt against British colonial rule, and released the film stateside.
“I’m thrilled to be here in Cannes alongside the Watermelon Pictures team celebrating this film and everything they’ve built,” said Shami. “What Watermelon Pictures has accomplished in such a short time is truly inspiring. Both Empire and Watermelon were founded on the belief that independent voices deserve global platforms. American Doctor is one of the most important documentaries I’ve seen in years, and I’m proud to join the project as it continues connecting with audiences around the world.”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Shami said Empire is looking to broaden its collaboration with Watermelon Pictures to support their films “with music licensing, soundtracks, with anything we can do,”
“We’re honored to continue our partnership with Ghazi,” added Hamza Ali. “Ghazi is someone who has consistently broken barriers and created space for independent voices to thrive on a global scale. To have him join American Doctor after our collaboration on Palestine 36 is deeply meaningful. There’s a shared mission between our companies rooted in culture, storytelling, and creating real impact through art.”
Ali said Watermelon will be rolling out American Doctor in domestic theaters this summer and be making “a full awards push” for the documentary. Following Sundance, the film toured the festival circuit, with stops in SXSW, CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, and the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, where it won the Amnesty International Award and the Peter Wintonick Audience Award.
“To stand alongside Hamza Ali, and now Ghazi Shami, two bold visionaries whose work speaks for itself, is both deeply comforting and exciting,” said American Doctor director Poh Si Teng in a statement.
Founded in 2010 in San Francisco, Empire is the largest privately-held independent record label, distributor, and publisher in the United States. The company famously distributed Kendrick Lamar’s debut album “Section.80” and the work of the late rapper XXXTentacion, as well as a broad roster of global music artists, including Nigerian superstar Asake and K-Pop rapper G-Dragon.
Watermelon Pictures, launched in 2024, was a producer and/or distributor on Oscar-shortlisted films From Ground Zero, Palestine 36, and All That’s Left of You, as well as Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated Best The Voice of Hind Rajab.