Lesbian Romance 'Maya & Samar' Lands U.S. Release on VOD Through Quiver
The lesbian romance film Maya & Samar has secured U.S. distribution through Quiver, which will release the title on VOD platforms across the United States on 4 September 2026, according to Deadline.
The film stars Nicolette Pearse and Amanda Babaei Vieira in the title roles, telling the story of a love affair between a Canadian journalist and a queer Afghan refugee over several days in Athens. Vieira is a winner of Germany's Ulrich Wildgruber Prize. Anita Doron directs from a screenplay by Tamara Faith Berger; Doron previously wrote the Oscar-nominated animated feature The Breadwinner.
Maya & Samar has already travelled a long road to reach American audiences. The film premiered at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and made its theatrical debut in March 2026 across Canada. It is a Canada-Hellenic Republic co-production, shot in Athens with Greek co-producer Filmiki. Production was under way in Greece as of September 2024.
The production roster behind the film is substantial. Robert Lantos — the veteran producer behind films including Eastern Promises — produces through his Serendipity Point Films banner alongside Laura Lanktree, with Julia Rosenberg producing for January Media. Distant Horizon's Anant Singh serves as executive producer. Filmiki's Nikolas Alavanos is co-producer, with Steve Solomos as supervising producer. The film was produced in association with Telefilm Canada, the Greek Film Centre, Distant Horizon, Bell Media, CBC, Ontario Creates, and the Harold Greenberg Fund, with support from EKOME.
The film carries an NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Association — the classification body's most restrictive tier, which bars anyone under 17 from admission without an accompanying adult. That rating, handed down in late 2025, drew sharp criticism from Doron, who called it "shocking" and pointed to what she described as repressive sexual politics. The NC-17 designation has long been a flashpoint for filmmakers and distributors, as it can limit marketing reach and theatrical bookings.
For the U.S. release, the VOD strategy sidesteps some of the constraints that an NC-17 rating can impose on a traditional theatrical rollout. Quiver, a distributor that has handled indie and genre titles across digital platforms, will bring the film to American streaming and transactional VOD audiences in early September.
The story of Maya & Samar — two women from vastly different worlds finding each other in a single city over a matter of days — now has its pathway to U.S. screens.
