Palestinian-"Israeli" documentary No Other Land earns Oscar nomination

A documentary highlighting the plight of a Palestinian village under threat has been nominated for Best Documentary at the 97th Academy Awards.

True story — these are your Documentary Feature nominees... #Oscars pic.twitter.com/CA44rrfPZ8

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 23, 2025

Titled No Other Land, the film explores the struggles of Palestinian journalist Basel Adra as he fights to protect his village in the occupied West Bank from encroaching Israeli Occupation settlers.

The film, a collaboration between Adra and "Israeli" director Yuval Abraham, alongside producers Rachel Szor and Hamdan Ballal, has already received critical acclaim at major festivals, including the Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.

Focusing on the village of Masafer Yatta, No Other Land captures the residents' resilience in the face of forced expulsions and settler violence. The ongoing attacks and land seizures in the area have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide.

Adra, who has been at the forefront of documenting these events, expressed his hope earlier this year that the film would gain international recognition.

"I really advise everybody in the US who has heard about No Other Land to watch it. It’s important for people to watch it so they can understand what’s going on," he told Variety.

But Adra’s message extends beyond awareness. "Don’t just watch it to feel sad or sorry for us, but to join our struggle and our movement and take action. Especially in the US which, as a country, is a main player in what’s going on," he urged.

He emphasized the role Americans can play in supporting Palestinians facing displacement. "Americans have a responsibility, I believe, and I hope that they watch it and move in the right direction and take any action they can in order to help us change," Adra said.