Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!
by Alex Billington
July 15, 2026
Source: YouTube
“We do not have to accept that as Americans.” Watermelon Pictures debuted their trailer for a documentary film titled American Doctor, a powerful look at the work of doctors who went to Palestine to save lives. This originally premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and it also played at SXSW, and tons of other major festivals over the last few months. When 3 American doctors – Palestinian, Jewish, Zoroastrian –enter Gaza to save lives, they find themselves caught between medicine and politics, risking everything to expose the truth. From Oscar-nominated filmmaker Poh Si Teng, and made by the producers Simon Kilmurry (winner of 17 Emmys & 6 Peabody Awards) and Oscar nominee Kristine Barford, American Doctor is earning rave reviews and generating important conversations. The film is about 3 physicians who worked to save the lives of children in Gaza who were hit by Israeli bombs. Featuring Dr. Thaer Ahmad, Dr. Mark Perlmutter, & Dr. Feroze Sidhwa. After working in the field, they take their battle from the front lines of war to the halls of Congress. “This is what my tax dollars did!” Together they fight to keep a promise to their Palestinian colleagues and patients, and to continue the struggle where it matters most: the United States. Opens in US theaters starting in August coming up. A vitally important doc on saving lives. ❤️🩹
Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Poh Si Teng’s doc film American Doctor, direct from YouTube:
American Doctor follows three American physicians – Palestinian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian – united by a single oath to save lives. After volunteering in besieged hospitals in Gaza, they return home determined to fight for the patients and colleagues they left behind. Dr. Thaer Ahmad is measured and strategic, Dr. Mark Perlmutter is blunt and wears his heart on his sleeve, and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa is media-savvy and prolific. Filmed in unfolding, on-the-ground scenes, the story follows the three of them from a Gazan hospital under siege, to the halls of Congress to continue the struggle where it matters most: the United States. American Doctor is directed by doc producer / filmmaker Poh Si Teng, directing her first feature film after producing many other docs including St. Louis Superman previously. Produced by Poh Si Teng, Kirstine Barfod, and Reem Haddad. This initially premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and it also played at True/False, SXSW, and CPH:DOX. Watermelon Pictures debuts American Doctor doc in select US + Canadian theaters starting August 14th, 2026 coming up this summer. Worth a watch?
