Palestinian-Israeli Collaboration Takes Home Academy Award on March 2, 2025, for Chronicling West Bank Struggles, as Directors Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham Deliver a Powerful Plea for Justice Amid Controversy Over U.S. Distribution and Political Backlash.
Los Angeles, USA – March 4, 2025 – The 97th Academy Awards delivered a historic moment on Sunday, March 2, when No Other Land, a searing documentary by a Palestinian-Israeli filmmaking collective, clinched the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the Dolby Theatre. Directed by Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor, the film—a five-year labor exposing settler violence and home demolitions in the West Bank’s Masafer Yatta—triumphed over four rivals, cementing its status as a global cinematic force. Yet, its victory has thrust it into a maelstrom of praise, protest, and political reckoning, with its creators using the spotlight to demand an end to what they call the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians.
The win, announced by host Conan O’Brien amid a hushed crowd, followed a festival run that saw No Other Land snag the Berlinale Documentary Award and a Cannes nod. Shot between 2019 and October 2023, the film blends Adra’s personal footage with archival clips, capturing the relentless destruction of his childhood village by Israeli forces—an area declared a military firing zone in the 1980s. “This is for my daughter,” Adra said in a trembling voice during the acceptance speech, flanked by his co-directors. “I hope she won’t live fearing violence and displacement like I have.” Abraham, an Israeli journalist, added a pointed jab at U.S. foreign policy, saying it “blocks a path” to peace, drawing both cheers and murmurs from the audience.
The Oscars stage became a megaphone for a message honed over years of risk—Adra and Abraham faced armed threats while filming, once held at gunpoint by settlers. Their collaboration, a rare bridge across a bitter divide, frames the documentary’s heart: a Palestinian activist and an Israeli ally documenting a shared fight. “We’re intertwined,” Abraham told reporters backstage, defending their call for a Middle East free of “ethnic supremacy.” The film’s title, born from a villager’s stark reply—“We have no other land”—echoes as both plea and protest.
Yet, the victory is shadowed by hurdles. Despite its accolades, No Other Land lacks a U.S. distributor, a void Adra attributes to studios’ fear of backlash. “They don’t want the risk,” he said in a post-ceremony interview, noting screenings have been limited to indie theaters and Academy voters’ digital links. The snub hasn’t dimmed its impact—grossing more than any nominated documentary this year, per Al Jazeera—it’s just fueled debate over Hollywood’s appetite for politically charged fare. Critics like Bilge Ebiri of New York magazine lament a lost era when distributors embraced controversy tied to humanity.
Backlash has also flared beyond the screen. Abraham’s home in Jerusalem faced a right-wing mob after earlier festival wins, and online vitriol has dogged the team since February, when Berlin retracted unrelated accusations against them. Still, the Oscar win—beating out Union, Will & Harper, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, and Sugarcane—signals a shift. “This isn’t just a film; it’s a scream for justice,” said documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, who joined the standing ovation.
For Palestinians watching from Masafer Yatta, where demolitions persist despite a Gaza ceasefire, the win is bittersweet. Adra, a new father, spoke of his community’s daily dread: “My hope is the world acts to stop this.” Abraham, meanwhile, referenced hostages held by Hamas—an olive branch to nuance his stance—while urging an end to apartheid-like policies. Their words, broadcast to millions, have reignited calls for accountability, even as Israel disputes the film’s framing of its West Bank actions as illegal under international law.
As No Other Land heads to digital platforms outside the U.S.—with 24 countries already on board—its Oscars moment marks a paradox: a story too urgent to ignore, yet too hot for some to handle. At the Governors Ball, the directors posed with their statuette, defiant and weary. For now, their lens has pierced Hollywood’s gloss, but the real test lies ahead: will the world beyond the red carpet listen?
