Los Angeles, CA – No Other Land made a powerful statement at the Oscars on Sunday night, taking home the award for best documentary feature film. The film’s directors used their acceptance speech to shed light on what they described as the “ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.” This emotional moment underscored the importance of the film’s message and the impact it seeks to make on the world.
The documentary, created by a team of Palestinian-Israeli filmmakers, delves into the displacement of rural Palestinian communities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Highlighting the plight of these villagers, who were uprooted to make way for an Israeli military tank training ground, the film captures the harsh realities faced by these marginalized communities. From the initial stages of filming in 2019 to its completion in 2023, just before the outbreak of violence between Hamas and Israel in October, the project aimed to give a voice to those affected.
Basel Adra, one of the four co-directors of No Other Land, shared his personal hopes for a better future for his daughter, expressing the desire for her to live without the constant fear of violence, home demolitions, and forcible displacements. Together with fellow co-director Yuval Abraham, the filmmakers emphasized the unity between Palestinians and Israelis in advocating for change. They called for a political resolution that would guarantee national rights for both communities, pointing fingers at the United States for allegedly obstructing this path to peace.
Despite being the top-grossing Oscar-nominated documentary of the year, No Other Land has yet to secure an official distributor in the United States. This lack of distribution has not hindered the film’s impact, as it continues to spark important conversations about the ongoing conflict in the region. In a previous interview, Adra expressed his uncertainty about the power of filmmaking to effect change, especially in the face of devastating events in Gaza. The exposure of such atrocities, however, remains a crucial step towards garnering international support for those affected by the conflict.
Through their powerful documentary, the filmmakers behind No Other Land have not only claimed the highest honor in the film industry but have also highlighted the urgent need for dialogue, understanding, and change in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their voices, united in a common cause, serve as a reminder of the resilience and determination of those who strive for justice and peace in the face of adversity.