No Other Land Wins 2025 Oscar for Best Documentary, Sparking Global Reactions
Oscar-winning documentary on Masafer Yatta sparks celebration and criticism.
Watan-The victory of the Palestinian documentary No Other Land in the 2025 Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature sparked joy and pride among Palestinian and Arab social media users, while also triggering anger and criticism from the Israeli side.
The film, a joint production between Palestine and Norway, was directed by a team of four: Palestinian duo Basel Adra and Hamdan Bilal, alongside Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Tsour, who are known for their activism in support of the Palestinian cause. The film serves as a form of resistance, documenting the suffering of Palestinians in the face of Israeli occupation practices, specifically focusing on the forced displacement in the Masafer Yatta region of the West Bank.
Over the course of 95 minutes, the film highlights the demolitions and expulsions carried out by Israeli authorities against Masafer Yatta residents from 2019 to 2023. Through a documentary-style narrative, it explores the impact of these violations on the daily lives of the residents, shedding light on the scale of the resulting humanitarian suffering.
No Other Land Wins Oscar, Igniting Global Reactions
The award was accepted by Palestinian director Basel Adra and journalist Yuval Abraham. In his acceptance speech, Adra expressed hope that the film would inspire global change to end the injustice and ethnic cleansing faced by the Palestinian people. He stated, “The film reflects the harsh reality we have lived for decades, and we call on the world to take real action to stop these violations.”
Following the announcement of the win, Palestinian and Arab social media platforms saw a wave of engagement, with many activists expressing their happiness and pride in this achievement.
Users described the victory as a testament to the Palestinian people’s determination to bring their cause to the global stage despite all obstacles. Others praised Basel Adra and his colleagues for their efforts in bringing the suffering of Masafer Yatta residents to the big screen, considering the film a global triumph for the Palestinian narrative.
No Other Land Oscar Win Sparks Praise and Controversy
Several activists emphasized that No Other Land winning an Oscar signifies a shift in how the world perceives the Palestinian story, noting that the film has helped expose Israeli crimes, including forced displacement and home demolitions.
Activists also called for the film to be widely viewed and shared as a tribute to the courageous work of its creators, who documented the struggles of Masafer Yatta residents for years, hoping to increase global awareness of Israeli actions in the occupied territories.
On the other hand, the film’s victory triggered a wave of criticism and outrage in Israel. Israeli Minister of Culture Miki Zohar commented on Twitter, stating, “The Oscar win for No Other Land is a sad moment for the world of cinema.”
Israel’s Channel 14 also criticized the win, describing the film as “anti-Israel propaganda,” adding that “Hollywood has once again chosen to side with the other side.”
