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‘Maya and Samar’ Premieres at Thessaloniki as Director Condemns NC-17 Rating

Filmmakers say the NC-17 reflects bias against lesbian intimacy, making a U.S. deal harder.

Overview

  • The Athens-set romance between a Canadian journalist and a queer Afghan woman debuted Nov. 4 at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
  • Director Anita Doron called the MPAA’s NC-17 rating “shocking,” arguing comparable heterosexual content often receives lighter classifications.
  • Producers contend the ruling exposes a double standard for depictions of lesbian and queer sexuality on screen.
  • The team describes the explicit scenes as consensual and character-driven, with actors saying they had control over how desire was portrayed.
  • VVS will release the Canada–Hellenic Republic co-production in Canada and Distant Horizon is handling international sales, while U.S. rights remain unsold.