Watermelon Pictures has secured the rights to “Everything Is Not OK,” a documentary directed by Dev Benegal that examines the life and work of artist Judith Blum Reddy. The film will have an exclusive streaming debut on Watermelon+, the company’s dedicated platform.
The production brings together Benegal alongside Maya S. Patel and Neeraj Jain from Min(d) Studio, with Annemarie Jacir, known for her film “Palestine 36,” serving as executive producer.
The documentary traces Reddy’s journey from New York to Paris and finally to India, exploring how her artistic practice was influenced by the Holocaust and various periods of displacement. It interweaves her narrative with those of fellow artists Nil Yalter, Zarina, and Camille Billops, who similarly transformed experiences of dislocation into their creative output. The film also incorporates perspectives from Palestinian, Kashmiri, and Indian poets to explore themes of memory, erased histories, and the imperative to speak out.
“For Judy, making art is an act of confrontation. An act of liberation. A refusal to let erasure win,” Benegal stated. “‘Everything Is Not OK’ is not only a portrait of an artist — it is a meditation on what it means to create, remember and resist through art when silence is no longer an option.”
Jacir joined the project after resonating with the film’s focus on memory and resistance. “In a moment when the world tilts towards intolerance, Judy’s story is a reminder that memory refuses to disappear and art can still be an act of resistance,” she said. Both Jacir and actor Adam Bakri provide voiceovers for revolutionary poetry readings featured in the documentary.
Benevolent is also recognized for directing features such as “English, August” and “Road, Movie.” A restored edition of “English, August,” handled by the Film Heritage Foundation, is currently screening at the Venice Film Festival.
The creative team for “Everything Is Not OK” includes Neeraj Jain handling additional cinematography, Dhruv Goel on music, Jean-Luc Panda as cinematographer, Mona Gesbel as editor, Anurag Jadhao on sound design, and Rob Sciarratta as colorist.
Founded in 2024, Watermelon Pictures has an existing portfolio that includes “From Ground Zero,” “All That’s Left of You,” and “Palestine 36,” all of which were shortlisted for the Academy Award for international feature. The studio also released “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which received an Oscar nomination. Co-founders Hamza Ali and Badie Ali launched the Watermelon+ streaming service in May 2025, positioning it as the largest curated collection of Palestinian cinema available in one location.
Wait, Annemarie Jacir is executive producing? She’s a brilliant filmmaker. That alone makes this documentary worth watching.
How wonderful that Watermelon+ is building such a robust platform for these vital stories. An exclusive deal seems smart.
Dev Benegal directing? I’m skeptical. His fiction films are hit or miss, so let’s see how he handles this documentary.
Fascinating subject matter. The intersection of Holocaust trauma and displacement in Reddy’s work sounds deeply moving.