‘No Other Land’ wins Oscar: Directors call for justice, an end to Palestinian suffering

SHAH ALAM - In a powerful moment at the 96th Academy Awards, the directors of ‘No Other Land’ used their acceptance speech for Best Documentary Feature to deliver a call to action against the 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians.

They also urged a political resolution to the ongoing conflict. The documentary, which follows Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the West Bank, has been widely praised but faced significant hurdles in securing United States (US) distribution, highlighting the film industry's hesitancy toward politically sensitive topics.

Upon taking the stage, Palestinian journalist and activist Basel Adra made a direct plea to the global audience.

"We call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.

"About two months ago, I became a father and my hope to my daughter is that she will not have to live the same life I am living now. ‘No Other Land’ reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist and co-director of the film, emphasised the power of their collaboration.

"We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together, our voices are stronger. We see each other, the destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end, the Israeli hostages brutally taken in the crime of Oct 7, which must be freed,” he said.

"When I look at Basel, I see my brother. But we are unequal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law and Basel is under military laws that destroy lives that he cannot control,” he pointed out.

Calling for a path forward that ensures equality, Abraham stressed the need for a political resolution. He said that there is a different path, a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both Palestinians and Israelis.

He also criticised the role of the US in the conflict.

"As I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path. Can you not see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe if Basel’s people are truly free and safe? There is another way,” he said.

The film, directed by an Israeli-Palestinian collective that includes Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor alongside Abraham and Adra, has been recognised for its unflinching portrayal of life under occupation.

It premiered at the Berlin Film Festival last year, winning top documentary jury and audience prizes before screening at major festivals in Toronto, Vancouver and New York. Despite its critical acclaim, "No Other Land" remains without a US distributor.

"We are obviously talking about the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and it is very ugly. The conversation in the US appears to be far less nuanced—there is much less space for this kind of criticism, even when it comes in the form of a film," he said.

At the ceremony, the film's message resonated beyond the stage. Australian actor Guy Pearce, who wore a "Free Palestine" lapel pin on the Oscars red carpet, was seen encouraging the filmmakers as they walked past him.

The political climate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been a subject of contention in Hollywood.

Last year, the British director Jonathan Glazer sparked debate at the Oscars by drawing comparisons between his Holocaust film, 'The Zone of Interest' and the present conflict.

Similarly, some attendees at the 2023 Oscars wore pins distributed by Artists4Ceasefire, calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

With "No Other Land" now carrying the weight of an Oscar, its filmmakers hope the documentary will continue to amplify the voices of those affected by displacement and conflict, despite the challenges of getting it seen by a wider audience.

As Adra and Abraham’s speeches demonstrated, the film is not just a cinematic achievement but a passionate call for change.