In October 1985, the assassination of Palestinian American activist Alex Odeh shocked a Southern California community and began a search for answers that continues four decades later.
Who Killed Alex Odeh? follows that unresolved case as directors Jason Osder and William Lafi Youmans investigate the murder of Odeh, a teacher, poet, community leader, and western regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
The documentary combines archival footage, firsthand testimony, contemporary interviews, and new reporting to revisit the circumstances surrounding Odeh’s death and examine the extremist forces connected to the case.
Among those featured are members of the Odeh family, including his widow Norma and daughter Helena, as well as investigative reporter David Sheen, whose reporting becomes an important part of the film’s renewed investigation.
Who Killed Alex Odeh? made its world premiere in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Excellence. The film then screened internationally at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, continuing its festival run with appearances including the Chicago Palestine Film Festival and San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. It has also screened at DC/DOX and other festivals.
Who Killed Alex Odeh? is scheduled to open in select U.S. theaters on October 30, 2026 via Watermelon Pictures.
The official synopsis describes a story in which the assassination of a beloved Palestinian American activist in Southern California ignites a 40-year quest for justice, while revealing the roots of a dangerous political movement that continues to thrive today. On October 11, 1985, Odeh was killed by a tripwire bomb planted in his office. Despite evidence and suspects identified at the time, nobody has been held accountable for the killing. Osder and Youmans use archival material and contemporary investigation to return to the case, tracing the extremist forces that may have been behind Odeh’s death and examining the disturbing consequences that remain decades later. The film asks why the case has remained unresolved and what the pursuit of justice can mean for a family that has lived with the loss for generations.
For Osder, the documentary became an examination of what happens when political violence is allowed to go without accountability. In an interview with Senses of Cinema, he explained that the filmmakers ultimately followed “a miscarriage of justice” rather than a conventional path toward solving the case. He added, “We still did not follow justice; we followed a miscarriage of justice.” Osder also discussed the larger purpose of the film, saying the documentary could bring something to light and give recognition to the Odeh family by allowing their story to be seen and known.
Screen Daily critic Allan Hunter called Who Killed Alex Odeh? a “Fascinating doc” that re-examines the 1985 assassination of the Palestinian American activist. Reviewing the film following its Sundance premiere and Berlin screening, Hunter noted that it may not provide many fresh revelations, but praised its ability to balance the family tragedy with a wider political context. The review describes the documentary as an investigation into a case that remains striking because the identities of suspected perpetrators have been known for years while accountability has remained elusive.
Watch the trailer for Who Killed Alex Odeh? above.
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