Full Breakdown
Lesbian Romance “Maya & Samar” Lands U.S. VOD Release
8/18/2026, 8:04:45 PM
U.S. Distribution Deal
Quiver has acquired the United States distribution rights to “Maya & Samar,” a Robert Lantos-produced lesbian romance. The film will debut on VOD platforms across the U.S. on September 4, 2026 (scheduled).
Production Background
The feature follows a brief, intense love affair between a Canadian journalist and a queer Afghan refugee whose lives intersect over several days in Athens. Directed by Anita Doron—screenwriter of the Oscar-nominated *The Breadwinner*—the screenplay was written by Tamara Faith Berger. The film premiered at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival before its theatrical debut in Canada in March 2026. It carries an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, a classification that Doron publicly described as “shocking” and indicative of repressive sexual politics, arguing that comparable heterosexual films often avoid such restrictions.
Key Creative Personnel
- Anita Doron – Director, noted for socially focused animation.
- Tamara Faith Berger – Screenwriter.
- Nicolette Pearse – Lead actress (Maya).
- Amanda Babaei Vieira – Lead actress (Samar), winner of Germany’s Ulrich Wildgruber Prize.
- Robert Lantos and Laura Lanktree – Producers (Serendipity Point Films).
- Julia Rosenberg – Producer (January Media).
- Nikolas Alavanos – Co-producer (Filmiki).
- Steve Solomos – Supervising producer (Filmiki).
- Anant Singh – Executive producer (Distant Horizon).
Official Statements & Responses
The production is a Canada-Hellenic co-production, supported by Telefilm Canada, the Greek Film Centre, Bell Media, CBC, Ontario Creates, the Harold Greenberg Fund, and EKOME.
Verbatim Quote
“I hope Maya & Samar reaches into the wildest parts of your heart and connects you across time, place, culture, and identity into a humanist oneness,” — Anita Doron
