People

The Israeli-Palestinian film No Other Land has been awarded the best documentary film accolade at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. This film, set in the town of Masafar Yatta in the occupied West Bank, was directed by Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham and Palestinian journalist Basel Adra.

The film charts the gradual disappearance of a village to make way for an Israeli military zone. Despite lacking a distribution deal in the United States, its shortlisting for the Oscar was announced on Thursday. The documentary includes footage from Adra's childhood, showing his father confronting Israeli soldiers and settlers to prevent the appropriation of Palestinian land.

Previously, No Other Land received the Documentary Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, also known as the Berlinale. During their acceptance speech for this award, Abraham and Adra generated controversy by pointing to the occupation of Palestine.

"I am free to move where I want in this land, but Basel, like millions of Palestinians, is locked in the occupied West Bank. This situation of apartheid between us, this inequality, it has to end," stated Abraham. His comments led to death threats against him in Israel.

At the Oscar ceremony, he continued in the same theme: “When I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are unequal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law, and Basel is under military law that destroys his life... Can't you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe if Basel's people are truly free and safe. There is another way. It's not too late for life, for the living."

(Michael Leahy. Source: FilmFare et al. Photo : Pat Benic / ADP)