THE ENCAMPMENTS, A POWERFUL AND TIMELY DOCUMENTARY THAT CAPTURES THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT ENCAMPMENT AND THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT IT INSPIRED

Produced by BreakThrough News and Grammy Award-Winning Artist Macklemore, The Film Will Have Its World Premiere At The Prestigious CPH:DOX Film Festival

Listen to Mahmoud Khalil's Story In His Own Words In This Post

CHICAGO, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Watermelon Pictures today announced the completion of THE ENCAMPMENTS, a groundbreaking documentary that chronicles the Columbia University Gaza Solidarity Encampment and the international wave of student activism it ignited. Produced by Grammy Award-winning artist Macklemore, the film is directed by Kei Pritsker, a journalist and producer at BreakThrough News, and award-winning filmmaker Michael T Workman (Meantime). THE ENCAMPMENTS will be seen for the first time at the CPH:DOX Film Festival in Copenhagen on March 25, 2025. The film will see a nationwide theatrical release later this year.

Through exclusive footage and intimate interviews, THE ENCAMPMENTS provides an unprecedented look at one of the most significant student movements in modern history. The film captures the passion, resilience, and challenges faced by students who risked everything to demand justice. THE ENCAMPMENTS examines why universities responded with mass arrests and force rather than engagement and dialogue, and it sheds light on the institutions' efforts to suppress student activism. In doing so, it offers a deeper understanding of both the power and the costs of grassroots movements.

Macklemore, who has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, 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.

THE ENCAMPMENTS is a BreakThrough News production in conjunction with Watermelon Pictures and Macklemore. Producers on the film include Kei Pritsker, Michael T Workman, Matthew Belen, and Munir Atalla with Benjamin Becker serving as Executive Producer.

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. The documentary follows the dramatic escalation, from Columbia's administration banning 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.

"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 Kei Pritsker and Michael T Workman in a joint statement. "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."

"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."

Hamza Ali, Founder and Co-CEO of Watermelon Pictures, emphasized the significance of the film's release, "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."

Produced by BreakThrough News, a leading independent media platform with over 1.85 million followers, THE ENCAMPMENTS continues the outlet's commitment to amplifying stories that challenge mainstream narratives and center the voices of those fighting for change.

About Watermelon Pictures: www.watermelonpictures.com

Press Inquiries: Marjan Manafi, [email protected]

SOURCE Watermelon Pictures