Strand seeks North American distribution for TIFF-selected film The Daughters of Abraham by Hanaël Elyousfi

Strand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Hanaël L. Elyousfi's The Daughters of Abraham following its international premiere in the Discovery section of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The French director's debut feature follows Miriam and Eva, friends in their early twenties.

Strand Releasing has acquired North American distribution rights to Hanael El Yousefi's The Daughters of Abraham following its international premiere in the Discovery section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.

French director Hanael El Yousofi's debut film, Abraham's Daughters, follows Mary and Eva, friends in their early twenties who experience one of the last carefree summers of their youth in Marseille.

Between nights out with friends and family and social obligations, two young women try to figure out where their lives go from here. RELATED STORIES 'Being Heumann' trailer: Extended first look at 'CODA' sequel News Sian Hader CANEX Creations CEO Osahon Akpata talks mission to shake up film finance in Africa: 'There's a huge opportunity to create IP that's an investable class'

Their close-knit Muslim and Jewish families struggle between supporting their daughters as modern, emancipated young women and wanting them to live within the traditional expectations of their communities. Watch on Deadline

A lapse in judgment and a betrayal of trust create tensions between friends and families, leading to a crisis that unbalances their social circle and forces them to take control of their own destinies.

The North American deal was brokered by Losange Films' Paris-based head of international sales, Alice Lessort, with Strand Releasing's Markus Hu and John Grant.

Abraham's Daughters is written by El Yousefi with Raphael Chevnement and Mia Grace Brown and produced by Charles Gilbert for CJ Cinemas. Melissa Gorz, Ava Baya and Gabriela Cohen have played roles in this movie.

"Toronto was a very moving experience, because it was there that I realized that my film does not belong to any community, but to everyone who has ever had to negotiate the space between their heritage and their freedom," says El Yousefi.

"Perhaps that's the most beautiful thing that can happen to a film: discovering that what you thought was deeply personal is, in fact, deeply universal... I'm delighted that this story will now have the opportunity to connect with a North American audience thanks to Strand Publishing."

"Abraham's Daughters" won the Audience Award and the Special Award for Cast at the Angoulême French Film Festival before its international TIFF premiere. It opens in France on December 30.

The film continues to tour the festival circuit with an upcoming screening in Latin America at the Sao Paulo Film Festival. The Strand will release the film in 2027.

"The critical response and audience reception in Toronto confirmed that its themes resonate beyond France, where the story is set," Lessort added.

"We're thrilled to have this first feature film that carefully balances world politics between the intimacy of two friends and makes it so universal," said Strand's Grands.

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