Kamal's (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Set in rural Iowa, Kamal's follows a Muslim chef and his Catholic wife as they bring Middle Eastern culinary traditions together with Midwestern ingredients. The documentary explores food, immigration and belonging through a family-centered story presented in English and Arabic.

Kamal's is a 2026 documentary about food, family and community in rural Iowa. At its center are a Muslim chef and his Catholic wife, whose shared kitchen becomes a meeting point between Middle Eastern tradition and Midwestern life.

Rather than treating cooking as an isolated craft, the film connects it to questions of identity and belonging. Its focus is a family and the community they build around the idea that everyone should have a place at the table.

Kamal's movie details

Story without spoilers

The documentary follows Kamal Hammouda and Laura Fendt as they combine their cultural backgrounds through food and daily life in rural Iowa. Their cooking brings Middle Eastern traditions into conversation with the ingredients and character of the Midwest.

Kamal's also looks beyond the couple’s kitchen to the wider community they create. The supplied synopsis frames belonging as the film’s central concern, with food serving as a way to connect people across cultural and religious differences. The story includes themes of Muslim identity, immigration and life in Iowa without revealing any specific developments or outcomes.

What to expect

Kamal's is a character-focused food documentary with a strong emphasis on cultural exchange and community. Viewers can expect a 72-minute film centered on a family, their culinary traditions and the role food plays in creating connection.

The premise brings together Middle Eastern and Midwestern influences, while the bilingual presentation in English and Arabic reflects the film’s cross-cultural setting. Its approach is grounded in the experiences of the people featured rather than in a fictional narrative.

Cast and creative team

Nich Perez directs and writes Kamal's. The documentary features Kamal Hammouda, Laura Fendt, Adam Hammouda, Amr Hammouda, Rasheed Hammouda and Mustafa Hammouda, all appearing as themselves.

• Kamal Hammouda as Themselves
• Laura Fendt as Themselves
• Adam Hammouda as Themselves
• Amr Hammouda as Themselves
• Rasheed Hammouda as Themselves
• Mustafa Hammouda as Themselves

Release and production context

Kamal's is a United States production from The NonProfit Film Collective. It is listed as released on October 7, 2026, and has a runtime of 1 hour and 12 minutes. The documentary is presented in English and Arabic.

Production companies: The NonProfit Film Collective

Reported production figures:
Budget $150,000

Kamal's official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Movies Dock view

With its rural Iowa setting and focus on food as a form of cultural connection, Kamal's offers a compact documentary portrait of family, immigration and community. Its premise places shared meals at the center of a broader conversation about how people create belonging across different backgrounds.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb