The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), operating under the BDS movement, has issued an official statement regarding the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," declaring that the film violates its anti-normalization principles.
The documentary, which highlights the struggles of Palestinian villagers in Masafer Yatta against the Israeli military, the Civil Administration, and violent settlers, was deemed non-compliant with BDS guidelines due to its collaboration with Israelis who, according to PACBI, do not fully recognize Palestinian rights.
PACBI stated that it had received numerous inquiries about its position on the film both before and after its Oscar win. The group emphasized the need to focus discussions on "stopping Israel’s genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, as well as the violence and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, refugee camps and Jerusalem."
'No Other Land' filmmakers in their acceptance speech at the Academy Awards
(Video: A.M.P.A.S.© 2025, yes ו- +STING)
The organization acknowledged that, since its release abroad, the film has faced criticism from Israel and what it described as "racist, anti-Palestinian forces in the West" because "it exposed — though only partially — Israel’s colonial oppression system, which Palestinians endure and resist in various ways." It claimed that exposing Israel’s crimes, such as the "ethnic cleansing in Masafer Yatta," strengthens global solidarity with Palestine and strengthens the BDS movement, which Israel has labeled a "strategic threat" for over a decade.
Why BDS rejects the film
Despite criticism from Israeli authorities, PACBI stressed that opposition from Israel is not a determining factor in whether they launch a boycott campaign against a particular project. The key issue, they argued, is that "many Palestinians and their supporters see the film as another case of normalization," with some even calling for its boycott.
According to the statement, "No Other Land" violates BDS’s anti-normalization guidelines in multiple ways. PACBI defines normalization as "participation in any project, initiative, or activity — local or international — that brings together Palestinians (or Arabs) and Israelis (individuals or institutions) on the same platform, unless two conditions are met: the Israeli side must publicly recognize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as affirmed by the UN, and the joint activity must be a form of collective resistance against Israel’s occupation, colonial settlements, and apartheid regime."
The statement argues that the film violates these principles because it was produced with the support of the Close-Up initiative, which BDS accuses of engaging in normalization. Additionally, PACBI claims that "some Israeli members of the production team do not support full Palestinian rights. They refused to acknowledge that Israel is committing genocide and even made harmful and unethical statements that falsely equate the oppressor with the oppressed — statements that could serve to justify Israel’s genocide. As such, the film clearly violates BDS’s anti-normalization principles."
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'No Other Land' filmmakers with their Oscar statuettes
(Photo: Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
While the filmmakers recently released a statement referencing the Nakba, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, occupation and settlements, PACBI argued that they did not explicitly attribute these acts solely to Israel. However, following the PACBI statement, the filmmakers updated their statement to include the term "genocide" and to explicitly name Israel as solely responsible.
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Beyond the BDS policy violations, PACBI also asserted that "Palestinians do not need Israeli approval, recognition or permission to tell our history, our present, our experiences, our dreams and our resistance."
Backlash follows Oscar's win
The PACBI statement comes just days after "No Other Land," directed by Palestinian journalists Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal alongside Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film, backed by a Norwegian production company, presents a bleak portrayal of life in Masafer Yatta under Israeli rule. Since its premiere at last year’s Berlin Film Festival, where it also won an award, the documentary has garnered significant acclaim throughout the awards season.
Trailer: 'No Other Land'
During the Oscar acceptance speech, Adra emphasized the film’s message: "'No Other Land' reflects the harsh reality we have endured for decades, a reality that continues today. We urge the world to take serious action to end this injustice, to stop this ethnic cleansing."
Abraham added: "We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis together, because our voices are stronger when united. We see each other. The horrific destruction in Gaza must end, and the Israeli hostages taken in the crimes of October 7 must be freed."