TL/DR –
After her colleague Samer Abu Daqqa was killed by an Israeli drone strike, Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist Poh Si Teng quit her executive job at ABC News to make a film about Gaza. Her directorial debut, “American Doctor”, features three US doctors working in a Gaza hospital and speaking out about the atrocities they witness. The film, which premiered at Sundance and is being distributed by Palestinian-owned company Watermelon Pictures, aims to highlight the targeting of healthcare workers in Gaza and change public perception about the Palestinian perspective.
Acclaimed Filmmaker Poh Si Teng’s Inspiring Journey to “American Doctor”
Emmy-winning filmmaker Poh Si Teng’s world was shaken when her colleague Samer Abu Daqqa died in an Israeli drone strike in December 2023. The incident deeply affected her and motivated her to quit her ABC News job and use her savings to create a film about Gaza.
Teng’s documentary “American Doctor” was inspired by an emotional video of Jewish doctor Mark Perlmutter discussing the impact of political ties on ceasefire negotiations. After meeting Perlmutter and two other American doctors, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a Zoroastrian surgeon, and Dr. Thaer Ahmad, a Palestinian American, Teng embarked on her directorial debut.
“American Doctor”, filmed in Gaza, focuses on the life-saving efforts of these three doctors in a local hospital and their outspoken reactions to the horrors they witness. The film tactfully avoids including Palestine or Gaza in its title to encourage a broader audience.
Chris Renteria
“American Doctor” raises critical ethical questions surrounding the display of uncensored images of children in areas of war and genocide. Teng and Perlmutter engage in a gripping debate on this issue in the documentary’s opening scene.
Hamza Ali, co-founder of Watermelon Pictures and executive producer of “American Doctor”, found the footage compelling and unique, reinforcing his decision to finance the film.
Teng, whose past experience includes a stint at the Associated Press and reporting for the New York Times and Al Jazeera Media, recounted her journey to Sundance earlier this year, where “American Doctor” sparked critical conversations. She believes audiences are becoming more receptive to stories from Palestine.
Palestinian-owned distribution company Watermelon Pictures, known for releasing “The Encampments” and “From Ground Zero”, became the U.S. distributor for “American Doctor” in April. Teng received other distribution offers, but her choice to go with Watermelon Pictures was simple.
Ali commended Teng’s film for its comedic relief and the sense of community she captured among the doctors and patients. The urgency to release “American Doctor” was fueled by the need to spotlight targeted healthcare workers in Gaza, particularly in the lead-up to the U.S. midterm elections.
Teng and Ali see “American Doctor” as a “Trojan Horse approach” to encourage viewing of films from the Palestinian perspective. As a tribute to healthcare professionals, they are offering free screenings to medical workers and students in Los Angeles and Chicago. “American Doctor” is currently running in select theaters.
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