The documentary “No Other Land,” an Israeli-Palestinian collaboration, won the Oscar for best documentary feature film on Sunday. The film follows the harrowing journey of Palestinian activists striving to protect their communities from demolition by the Israeli military. Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, faces arrest while documenting the destruction of his hometown at the southern edge of Masafer Yatta.
The Israeli government is demolishing these areas to convert them into a military training zone. Adra captures the demolition of homes and schools, and the struggle of villagers banding together to resist the devastation. Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist and filmmaker, partnered with Adra to create the film.
During his acceptance speech, Abraham spotlighted the ongoing atrocities in the region.
oscar winner highlights israeli-palestinian struggle
“We made this film as Palestinians and Israelis because, together, our voices are stronger,” he stated.
He further condemned the destruction in Gaza and called for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The documentary’s creation spanned four years from 2019 to 2023, wrapping up just days before the onset of a new conflict in Gaza. “No Other Land” gained international recognition on the film festival circuit and was picked up for distribution in 24 countries, although it struggled to find a U.S. distributor.
The film’s intense and personal footage derives heavily from Adra’s camcorder archive, depicting Israeli soldiers bulldozing the village school and filling water wells with cement to prevent people from rebuilding. Adra and Yuval’s collaboration demonstrates the starkly different realities for Palestinians and Israelis in the region. “When I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are unequal,” Abraham remarked.
“We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law, and Basel is under military laws that destroy his life.”
The award and the film shine a critical light on the intense struggles faced by the Palestinian people, offering a narrative of resilience and collaboration in the face of severe adversity.