**”Creators of *No Other Land* Deliver Urgent Call to Action During Oscars Speech”**
# *No Other Land*: A Documentary That Sheds Light on the Realities of Occupation
The 2024 documentary *No Other Land* has captivated audiences around the world with its raw and harrowing depiction of life under occupation in the Palestinian region of Masafer Yatta. Directed by Palestinian journalist and activist Basel Adra, alongside Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham, and co-directed by Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal and Israeli filmmaker Rachel Szor, the film presents an unfiltered view of the forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
In March 2025, *No Other Land* won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film, adding to an already impressive list of over 20 international accolades. However, despite its critical success, the film has struggled to secure an American distributor, highlighting the ongoing challenges of bringing narratives that critique the Israeli government to global audiences.
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## **Unveiling the Crisis in Masafer Yatta**
The documentary provides an intimate and disturbing glimpse into the situation in Masafer Yatta, a cluster of 20 villages in the southern Occupied West Bank. According to Amnesty International, residents of this region continue to face imminent risk of forced displacement due to the Israeli military’s decision to designate their land as a “firing zone” for military training. The film captures the destruction of homes, the despair of displaced families, and the human cost of Israeli settlement expansion.
Scenes in *No Other Land* show families being forced to evacuate their homes moments before bulldozers demolish them, while Israeli forces confront journalists, including Adra himself, who is seen being tackled despite identifying himself as a journalist.
Through hundreds of hours of firsthand footage and archival videos recorded by Adra’s family, the film builds a powerful and undeniable case against the ongoing displacement and destruction of Palestinian communities.
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## **The Struggle for Distribution in the U.S.**
Despite its international recognition, *No Other Land* has faced difficulties in securing distribution in the United States. According to co-director Yuval Abraham, distributors were reluctant to engage with a film critical of Israel, especially in light of the ongoing war in Gaza that followed the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.
In an interview with *The Guardian*, Abraham revealed that potential distribution platforms expressed concerns about backlash for showcasing such a critical perspective on Israeli policies. Consequently, the filmmakers have opted to self-release the film in the United States through the independent film booking service mTuckman Media, ensuring that American audiences can still access their work.
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## **A Call for Justice and Solidarity**
At the Oscars ceremony, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham used their acceptance speech to send a strong message about the urgency of addressing injustices in Palestine. Adra pleaded for an end to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, while Abraham emphasized the intertwined fate of Palestinians and Israelis:
> “Can’t you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe if Basel’s people are truly free?”
The speech was met with widespread applause, although it also drew criticism from some political figures in Israel. Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar called the Oscar win “a sad moment for the world of cinema” and accused the film of spreading misinformation about Israel.
For Adra, the documentary is more than just a film—it is a personal chronicle of his people’s struggle. Forced to edit the film from the Occupied West Bank because of Israeli travel restrictions, Adra hopes that *No Other Land* will serve as a lasting document of resistance for future generations.
“My hope,” Adra expressed in his Oscars speech, “is that my daughter will not have to live the same life I am living now, always fearing violence, home demolitions, and forced displacement.”
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## **A Documentary That Cannot Be Ignored**
*No Other Land* is a rare collaboration between Palestinians and Israelis that exposes the realities of occupation with unflinching honesty. Its obstacles in securing American distribution raise troubling questions about censorship and the reluctance of major platforms to support films that critically examine Israeli policies.
However, the film’s journey is far from over. Through grassroots efforts, independent screenings, and word of mouth, *No Other Land* continues to reach audiences eager to learn about the struggles of occupied Palestinian communities.
By documenting one of the largest forced expulsions in the West Bank since 1967, the filmmakers have made it impossible for the world to look away. Now, it is up to the global audience to decide whether this story is one that they are willing to hear.
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Would you watch *No Other Land*? What do you think about the challenges it faces in securing distribution? Let us know your thoughts. 🚀