No Other Land (Documentary)

"No Other Land" (Başka Toprak Yok), a 2024 documentary film directed by Palestinian journalist and activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist and filmmaker Yuval Abraham. Film focuses on demolitions carried out by the Israeli military and the forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the Masafer Yatta region in southern West Bank. Gerçek events documented in the film span the period from 2019 to 2023. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2025.

^{Behind the Demolition: The Testimony of No Other Land}

The documentary follows Palestinian activist Basel Adra as he documents the demolitions in Masafer Yatta. In 1981, Israel declared the area a military training zone and began forcibly displacing Palestinians. Adra has sought to bring international attention to the events he witnessed by recording them. The film centers on his efforts and his collaboration with Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham.

The film portrays demolitions carried out by Israeli soldiers, attacks by settlers against Palestinians, the hardships endured by the local population, and their resistance to these actions. It also explores relationships between individuals from the two communities, particularly the friendship between Palestinian Adra and Israeli Abraham.

^{No Other Land's Oscar Speech, March 2, 2025}

The documentary includes footage of Palestinian homes, personal archives, news videos, and dialogues between Israelis and Palestinians. The demolitions, carried out in an organized and state-supported manner by Israeli soldiers and settlers, were recorded over five years. The film also reveals practices such as filling Palestinian water wells with concrete under the pretext of being “unlicensed,” cutting water pipes, and bulldozing schools.

The film was shot over five years through the collaborative work of four directors. Basel Adra is a Palestinian journalist, lawyer, and activist who has resisted forced displacement in Masafer Yatta since childhood. Yuval Abraham is an Israeli documentary producer and investigative journalist who examines the Israeli public’s perspective on the issue and highlights systemic inequalities. Hamdan Ballal is a Palestinian photographer and documentary director who also conducts human rights research. Rachel Szor is an Israeli cinematographer and editor.

The documentary was filmed between 2019 and 2023. The crew faced numerous challenges during this period. Filming in areas declared military zones by the Israeli military proved difficult, and the filmmakers frequently encountered interference from security forces.

No Other Land premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), where it won the Best Documentary Award and the Panorama Audience Award. During the award ceremony, Basel Adra called on the German government to halt arms sales to Israel and drew attention to ongoing attacks in Gazze. Director Yuval Abraham emphasized the inequality between Israelis and Palestinians and called for a political solution.

The documentary has been screened at numerous international festivals and has received multiple awards. Some of these include:

Berlin International Film Festival (2024): Best Documentary, Panorama Audience Award

CPH:DOX (2024): Audience Award

International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards (2024): Courage Under Fire Award

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (2024): Critics’ Jury Award, Audience Award

London Critics’ Circle Film Awards (2025): Documentary of the Year

European Film Awards (2024): Best European Documentary

Independent Spirit Awards (2025): Best Documentary

New York Film Critics Circle Awards (2024): Best Non-Fiction Film, as a Documentary

Academy Awards (Oscar) (2025): Best Documentary

The documentary won the Academy Award for Best Documentary at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025. During the ceremony, Basel Adra said, “My hope is that my daughter will not have to live the life I am living now. ‘No Other Land’ reflects the painful reality we have endured for decades and continue to resist.” Yuval Abraham remarked, “When I look at Basel, I see him as my brother, yet we are not equal. I live under a civilian government with freedom, while he lives under a regime of military laws that destroy his life and strip him of control.”

^{Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham, 97th Academy Awards, March 2, 2025}

"No Other Land" has secured distribution agreements in 24 countries worldwide, yet it has not yet found a distributor in the ABD.

The documentary aims to raise awareness among viewers by exposing Israel’s repression of Palestinians and its forced displacement policies.