Since its release last year, the film has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition at the Berlin Film Festival and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards.
Learn more about the film and the significance of its achievement:
About the Film
The film, compiled from 2019 to 2023, features personal camcorder footage captured by Palestinian activist Basel Adra, 28, who documents the Israeli military’s destruction of his home village, Masafer Yatta, located in a rural area of the southern occupied West Bank.
The documentary highlights the dismantling of homes in the village that the Israeli military intends to convert into a military training zone. The footage depicts the military razing a school and sealing water wells with cement to prevent reconstruction.
Basel Adra collaborated with Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, and Israeli filmmaker Rachel Szor to create the film.
During his Oscar acceptance speech on Sunday night in Los Angeles, Adra remarked, “My film reflects the harsh reality we have endured for decades, and we still fight back as we urge the world to take serious actions to end the injustice and stop the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”
Abraham added, “When I look at Basel, I see my brother. However, we are not equals. I live under civilian law with freedom, while Basel is subject to military laws that destroy lives and are beyond his control.”
The film was released shortly after the lethal Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which prompted Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
At least 1,100 people were killed in attacks in Israel, and approximately 240 individuals were taken captive. By the time a ceasefire was established in Gaza on January 19, over 48,000 Palestinians had lost their lives due to the conflict. An estimated 13,000 more people are believed to be buried under the rubble and presumed dead. Rights groups have accused Israel of committing genocide.
#Oscars2025 🇵🇸 @basel_adra: “We call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and cease the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.” #NoOtherLand
— State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) March 3, 2025
Where to Watch No Other Land
Despite being highly acclaimed, the documentary is not readily available for streaming due to a lack of interest from studios and streaming platforms in the United States.
Last year, Netflix removed 24 Palestinian films from its archive, raising concerns about the suppression of Palestinian voices in Hollywood and the US media.
Abraham stated, “In the US, many people are reaching out to us asking how they can watch it. As a result, we have decided to release the film independently in theaters, which will be showing in about 100 theaters across the US.”
There are limited streaming options available, including purchase or rental links on Amazon UK, Microsoft, Sky Store, and AppleTV; however, the availability of the documentary in different regions remains uncertain.
Is This the First Time Palestinians Have Won an Oscar?
Yes, this marks the first time a Palestinian filmmaker has received an Oscar.
In 2006, Paradise Now, directed by Hany Abu-Assad, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The film represented the “Palestinian territories.” In 2014, Abu-Assad’s film Omar was also nominated in the same category under the country name “Palestine.”
Other Palestinian films have been nominated but have not won awards.
Why Is the Win Significant?
The victory for No Other Land comes amid increasing Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank following the ceasefire in Gaza. These operations have resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties and displacement.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli military is applying lessons from the Gaza conflict to their operations in the West Bank.
The West Bank is home to approximately three million Palestinians and over 500,000 Israeli settlers, whose presence has expanded significantly since the 1993 Oslo Accord’s call for a settlement freeze. The settlements are deemed unlawful under international law and have complicated the potential realization of a two-state solution.
Additional settlements have been announced since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on January 20.
