Poh Si Teng’s ‘American Doctor’ Debuts at CPH:DOX
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- Poh Si Teng – Oscar‑nominated producer turned director, launched her debut documentary “American Doctor” after feeling “angry and despair” over the Gaza conflict, as she told CPH:Conference.
- American Doctor – premiered in the U.S. Documentary Competition at Sundance and screened at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, and True/False, where the 1,200‑seat Missouri Theater was sold out.
- Dr. Mark Perlmutter – orthopedic surgeon who volunteered in Gaza, appears in the film urging the medical community to treat genocide as a public‑health issue and condemning the United States for being Israel’s chief military sponsor.
- Funding – Teng initially spent $150,000 of her life savings and later raised almost $200,000 from Malaysian donors and U.S. grants after early 2025, enabling completion of the documentary.
- Kirstine Barfod – Oscar‑nominated producer on the project, agreed to work for half her usual fee to help finish the film.
- Watermelon Pictures – backs as a backer of “American Doctor,” though distribution plans have not yet been set.
Why it matters: The documentary gives a platform to doctors who witnessed Gaza’s devastation, exposing the United States’ support for Israel and urging the medical community to treat genocide as a public‑health issue, thereby informing Western audiences about US involvement and prompting viewers to reconsider their own role.
