Strand Releasing Takes North American For Hanaël El Yousfi’s TIFF-Selected ‘The Daughters Of Abraham’
News Source
•Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:42:52 +0000
📰 What Happened
Strand Releasing has bought North American distribution rights to The Daughters of Abraham. The film is the debut feature of French director Hanael El Yousfi. It had its international premiere in the Discovery section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The story follows Myriam and Eva, two friends in their early twenties enjoying a carefree summer in Marseille. Their close Muslim and Jewish families struggle between supporting their daughters as free young women and wanting them to follow tradition. A slip in judgement and a betrayal create tensions between the friends and inside their families.
🔍 The Backstory
Before Toronto, the film won the Audience Award and a Special Prize for its cast at France's Angouleme Francophone Film Festival. It stars Melissa Guers, Ava Baya and Gabriella Cohen. It opens in France on 30 December and is set for a Latin American premiere at the Sao Paulo Film Festival. Strand will release it in North America in 2027. The director said Toronto showed her that the film belonged to everyone who has had to balance heritage and freedom.
🎯 Why It Matters
The deal brings a well-received first film to audiences in the United States and Canada. It also highlights how major festivals help new international voices find a wider market, which is often the only way small, personal films reach viewers far from home. It also shows how a film about two friends can speak to audiences far beyond the place it is set.
Strand Releasing has bought North American distribution rights to The Daughters of Abraham. The film is the debut feature of French director Hanael El Yousfi. It had its international premiere in the Discovery section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The story follows Myriam and Eva, two friends in their early twenties enjoying a carefree summer in Marseille. Their close Muslim and Jewish families struggle between supporting their daughters as free young women and wanting them to follow tradition. A slip in judgement and a betrayal create tensions between the friends and inside their families.
Before Toronto, the film won the Audience Award and a Special Prize for its cast at France's Angouleme Francophone Film Festival. It stars Melissa Guers, Ava Baya and Gabriella Cohen. It opens in France on 30 December and is set for a Latin American premiere at the Sao Paulo Film Festival. Strand will release it in North America in 2027. The director said Toronto showed her that the film belonged to everyone who has had to balance heritage and freedom.
The deal brings a well-received first film to audiences in the United States and Canada. It also highlights how major festivals help new international voices find a wider market, which is often the only way small, personal films reach viewers far from home. It also shows how a film about two friends can speak to audiences far beyond the place it is set.