Israeli-Palestinian made film wins Academy Award + link

Co-directors Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham at the Oscar ceremony

After winning Best Documentary in the Film Independent Spirit Awards, last week, the film No Other Land, received an Academy Award on Sunday night.

Written and directed by Israeli and Palestinian film-makers: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor, their debut movie offers an insider's view of life on the West Bank, and the relentless destruction of homes and historic villages across the territory as more illegal settlers arrive, supported by Israeli security forces.

In their acceptance speeches, two of the film's directors, Palestinian journalist Basel Adra, and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, called on the world to end what they described as the "ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people."

Basel Adra said: "About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope for my daughter that she will not have to live the same life I am living now, always fearing settlers, violence, home demolitions and forcible displacements."

"We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together, our voices are stronger," said Yuval Abraham. "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 laws that destroy his life and he cannot control. There is a different path. A political solution, without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people. And I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path."

No Other Land, is being screened on Channel Four on Tuesday 4 March, from 11.15pm to 12.50am.

LINKS

Watch No Other Land: www.channel4.com/programmes/no-other-land/on-demand/77943-001

See the Academy Award acceptance speech: www.youtube.com/shorts/eBLKk6jt2M8