The Israeli-Palestinian collaborative documentary “No Other Land” took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards. The film, a powerful portrayal of Palestinian activists fighting against the demolition of their homes by the Israeli military, beat out four other nominees: “Porcelain War,” “Sugarcane,” “Black Box Diaries,” and “Soundtrack to a Coup d’État.”

Directed by Israeli journalist and filmmaker Yuval Abraham, in collaboration with Palestinian activist Basel Adra, the film follows Adra’s struggle to document the destruction of his West Bank hometown, Masafer Yatta, which is being razed by Israeli forces to create a military training zone. The film highlights the stark inequalities between Adra’s experience under military law and Abraham’s freedom under civilian law.

 Adra’s personal camcorder footage, showing the destruction of homes, schools, and water wells, forms a core part of the film’s powerful visual narrative. The film also depicts the community’s resilience in the face of adversity, including the aftermath of an Israeli soldier shooting a local man protesting the demolitions, leaving him paralyzed.

In his acceptance speech, Abraham used the platform to criticize the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza and called for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He also emphasized the need for a political solution that respects the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians. Adra, in his acceptance remarks, expressed his hope that his daughter would not have to endure the same hardships he has experienced.

Despite its success on the international film festival circuit, “No Other Land” lacked a U.S. distributor prior to the Oscars, having secured distribution in 24 other countries.