Oscars 2025: No Other Land Wins Best Documentary Feature Amidst Political Tensions

Image credits: REUTERS/Carlos Barria

The 97th Academy Awards saw a significant win for the documentary film No Other Land, which took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. The film, made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective, premiered at the Berlin film festival last year and won the Berlinale documentary award. It focuses on the steady forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta, a region in the occupied West Bank targeted by Israeli forces. The film's win comes amidst a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, pausing fighting for an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The acceptance speech by co-directors Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham was one of the most overtly political moments of the night. Adra thanked the Academy and expressed his hope that his daughter, born two months ago, would not have to live in fear of settler violence, home demolitions, and forced displacements. Abraham condemned the "atrocious destruction of Gaza" and called for the release of Israeli hostages taken in the crime of October 7. He also emphasized the need for a political solution, stating that "there is a different path, a political solution, without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people." The film's win highlights the harsh reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the need for a political solution to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Despite its acclaim, the film could not find distribution in the US and was self-distributed instead. The lack of formal distribution was attributed to political reasons, with co-director Yuval Abraham stating that "I believe it's clear that it's for political reasons." The film's independent release in almost 100 theaters has seen sold-out shows, demonstrating the high demand for the film in the United States. The film's success can be seen as a testament to the power of independent filmmaking and the importance of sharing stories that might otherwise be overlooked.

The win for No Other Land is significant, given the current political climate in the Middle East. The film's portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its emphasis on the need for a political solution have sparked discussions on the issue. The film's success can be seen as a call to action, highlighting the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and an end to the humanitarian crisis in the region. As the film's co-directors emphasized, "there is no other way" but to work towards a political solution that addresses the needs and rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.

The 97th Academy Awards also saw other notable wins, including the film "Anora," which picked up awards for best picture, best actress, best director, best editing, and best original screenplay. The awards ceremony was marked by a range of emotional and powerful acceptance speeches, with many winners using their platform to highlight social and political issues. The list of winners included:

• No Other Land: Best Documentary Feature
• Anora: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay
• 20 Days in Mariupol: Previous year's winner of the Best Documentary Feature award