‘No Other Land’: How an Israeli-Palestinian Collaboration Captivated Audiences and Won the Oscar for Best Documentary

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The documentary “No Other Land,” highlights the efforts of Palestinian activists striving to protect their communities from Israeli military demolitions. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary on Sunday.

This powerful film, created by both Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, follows activist Basel Adra. He courageously documents the destruction of his hometown in the West Bank, which is being demolished to create a military training area. Adra is initially ignored, but his story gains traction after he partners with a Jewish Israeli journalist.

Yuval Abraham, the Israeli journalist who co-directed the film, emphasized the need for unity in his acceptance speech. He condemned the destruction of Gaza and called for Hamas to release all Israeli hostages.

“No Other Land” had already made waves in the film festival circuit and was a top contender for the award. Although it secured distribution deals in 24 countries, it still didn’t find a distributor in the U.S. The documentary outperformed other nominees such as “Porcelain War” and “Black Box Diaries.”

Filming took place over four years, from 2019 to 2023, and wrapped just before Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which escalated the conflict in Gaza.

Abraham faced challenges while filming, as some Palestinians questioned his privilege as an Israeli citizen. While Basel lives under military law and struggles to maintain freedom, Abraham can move freely. “I see my brother in Basel, but we live unequal lives,” he noted.

Adra’s personal footage shows heartbreaking scenes, like Israeli soldiers bulldozing schools and filling water wells with cement, making it difficult for residents to rebuild. The community of Masafer Yatta rallies around a local man who, after protesting a home demolition, is shot and left paralyzed. His mother faces the challenge of caring for him in a cave home.

Adra shared a poignant message during the Oscar acceptance. “About two months ago, I became a father,” he said. “I hope my daughter won’t live in fear of violence and forced displacement.” He urged the world to take action against these injustices.

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