West Bank-based movie No Other Land won the Best Documentary Feature award at the 2025 Oscars. The film, made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective, triumphed over Black Box Diaries, Porcelain War, and Sugarcane. The compelling documentary was released in 2024 and premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. It captivated the audience with its portrayal of the struggle of the Palestinians in Masafer Yatta.
The movie was made between 2019 and 2023. It primarily focuses on the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta, which is a region in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. While receiving the award, the co-director Basel Adra gave a heartwarming speech about the motive of the film. Want to know more about the cast and plot of the movie? Let’s take a look.
The cast and crew members of No Other Land
A dedicated team of cast and crew members directed the movie. The collaborative approach of Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor resulted in a movie that stands as a testament to the power of storytelling. The film’s production was supported by producers Fabien Greenberg and Bård Kjøge Rønning, with cinematography led by Rachel Szor and a moving score composed by Julius Pollux Rothlaender.
Accepting the Oscar, Adra reflected on the harsh reality that Palestinians have been enduring for decades. He said in his acceptance speech,
About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope to my daughter that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now, always fearing settlers, violence, home demolitions and forcible displacements that my community is living and tasting every day under Israeli occupation.
“We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law, and Bassel is under military laws that destroy his life.”
The powerful Palestinian-Israeli documentary ‘No Other Land’ has won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
On stage, Palestinian journalist and director… pic.twitter.com/CfEZWqthkP
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) March 3, 2025
The team of No Other Land also requested the world to take serious action to stop the injustice and ethnic cleansing that have been happening to the Palestinians for decades. Co-director Abraham added that they made the film together because together their voices are stronger. The same message resonates throughout the movie.
Despite their win at the 97th Academy Awards, fate had other plans. According to a report by The Guardian, Hamdan Ballal, co-director of No Other Land, has been lynched by a group of settlers. He has sustained injuries in his head and stomach. While he was being taken to the hospital, Israeli soldiers invaded the ambulance and abducted him. There has been no sign of him so far. The other directors have shared their take on social media.
I’m standing with Karam, Hamdan’s 7 year old son, near the blood of Hamdan’s in his house, after settlers lynched him. Hamdan, co-director of our film No Other Land, is still missing after soldiers abducted him, injured and bleeding. This is how they erase Masafer Yatta. pic.twitter.com/72pT3UF3kj
— Basel Adra (@basel_adra) March 24, 2025
The abduction of Ballal further amplifies the brutality of the soldiers and proves the reality that the movie has shown. Adra called it a “revenge” for the movie and the recognition it has received.
Plot: Documenting struggle and solidarity
The documentary chronicles the relentless efforts of Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, who documents the systemic dysfunction of his homeland in Masafer Yatta by Israeli authorities. Adra has captured the demolition and displacements of Palestinians over the course of five years, providing a detailed and unfiltered look into the daily changes that his community has faced.
When the Israeli soldiers were tearing down the southern edge of the West Bank to use the land as a military training center, Adra’s pleas fell on deaf ears. That is when he met a Jewish-Israeli journalist, Yuval Abraham, who helped him to narrate his story. Their collaboration formed the documentary which underscores the complexities of human relationships in conflict zones.
Their work has also highlighted a shared commitment to justice that goes beyond the borders. The directors of No Other Land have portrayed a clear picture of the demolition and destruction that have been continuing in Palestine. The movie will remain a testament to such injustice for the world to witness.
The unfiltered storytelling in the movie has earned it an Oscar along with several other critical acclimations. Apart from the Academy Awards, the film has received the Panorama Audience Award for Best Documentary Film and the Berlinale Documentary Film Award. The authenticity and powerful storytelling have set the stage for further recognition. The movie’s powerful narrative offers viewers a glimpse into the lives of those who are striving for dignity and justice.
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