“Can ‘No Other Land’ Win an Oscar Without US Distributor?”
The Palestinian and Israeli documentary film titled “No Other Land” has stirred up buzz and garnered critical acclaim as it enters the Oscar nominations set to be announced today. Despite its success, none of the distributors or streaming services in the US have shown interest in the film. The documentary tells the personal story of the Masafer Yatta community in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces destroyed homes and displaced families from the land they have inhabited for generations. The area was annexed by Israel, claiming it as necessary for military training grounds.
Directed by Palestinian filmmaker Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal, alongside Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, “No Other Land” has received critical acclaim and numerous awards at international film festivals. After winning the Best Documentary award at the Berlin International Film Festival premiere in February, the film also received accolades at the Gotham Awards and from major critics in New York and Los Angeles. Recently, it received an Oscar nomination.
Critics have praised the urgency and powerful portrayal of Israel’s brutal occupation in the film. Despite the acclaim, no American studio has been willing to purchase the renowned film, even though distributors typically spend the year boasting about their Oscar nominations.
Abraham, in a recent interview with The New York Times, mentioned the political reasons influencing the lack of interest in the film. “I still think it’s possible, but we have to wait and see,” he stated. “There are clearly political reasons affecting this. I hope at some point the demand for this film will become so clear and undeniable that there will be a distributor brave enough to accept it and show it to audiences.”
Independent Distribution Efforts
Meanwhile, the directors have initiated a self-distribution plan to showcase “No Other Land” in 23 US cinemas. With a strong box office backing, the film will continue to be launched in other cities over the coming weeks. Adra and Abraham are not only part of the film’s directing team but also its main subjects. Adra, raised in Masafer Yatta, has documented the forced evictions since his teenage years. Throughout the film, he builds a strong yet tense bond with Abraham, who resides in Jerusalem but frequently travels to Masafer Yatta to report on the situation to Israeli audiences.
“I really want to say something very personal because even with the success of ‘No Other Land’, the situation remains very dire,” Adra expressed, detailing how his village was once again attacked by armed settlers in the weeks leading up to the Oscar nominations.
Global Awareness Campaign
The filmmakers hope that this awards campaign will generate increased global awareness of the challenging situation in Masafer Yatta. They still dream of a US distributor that will help “No Other Land” reach a wider audience. “We have been working on this for five years, and Basel risked his life – I saw him almost shot two or three times,” Abraham revealed. “It takes a little courage to give a stage that we believe is worthy, that is accepted by the Masafer Yatta community. But we still hope that will change.”
In conclusion, the journey of “No Other Land” not only highlights the struggles of the Palestinian community under Israeli occupation but also sheds light on the challenges faced by independent filmmakers in reaching global audiences. The film’s powerful storytelling and emotional depth resonate with viewers, urging them to engage with the harsh realities depicted on screen. As the Oscar nominations draw near, the team behind “No Other Land” remains hopeful for a breakthrough that will open doors to wider distribution and impact.
