The victory of the Oscars of the Palestinian-Israeli film attracts criticism and acclaimed: NPR

Like Aviv, Israel – The Israeli Minister of Culture described the Oscars victory as a Palestinian -Israeli joint documentary “a sad moment for the world of cinema”. Palestinian residents whose difficulties of the community are represented in the film entitled The Award A Morale Boost.

The film No other landRegarding activists fighting Israeli demolitions of Palestinian houses in occupied West Bank, won the Academy 2025 Academy for best documentary. The film also highlights the friendship between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers.

The Israeli Minister of Culture, Miki Zohar, member of the Conservative Party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said in an article on social networks that filmmakers “have chosen to amplify the stories that distort the image of Israel” in the world. He called it “sabotage” against the country “, in particular following the massacre of October 7 and the current war.”

Zohar said that recent changes to Israeli public funding for film projects were intended to dry the support of these productions, which he described as “industry which strengthens his career on Israel slander on the world scene”.

In an interview with NPR, the head of the Israel Documentary Film Forum described the Minister’s comments as “shameful”.

“As a community of filmmakers in Israel, we are faced with challenges concerning freedom of expression,” said Roni Aboulafia, president of the Israeli documentary forum. “We are trying to continue doing this job and continuing to tell the Israeli story as it is, without fear and without looking away.”

Israel minimizes public funding for similar films

Last month, the Israeli government has promulgated major changes to the way it offers financial support to film projects, which preferences for commercial films with great box office success.

The change of policy has made anger the leaders of the film industry in Israel, who argue that change means less financial support for arthouses and independent films that deal with more politically sensitive subjects.

Israel has also increased public funding for Israeli filmmakers from the West Bank Colonies – the very company as the film No other land Criticism as with Palestinian houses and lands.

No other land has not received Israeli public funding. It was not screened in Israeli or Palestinian cinemas. Producers have published it free online.

The Palestinians say that the film “raises our minds”

Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta, a community of villages in the West Bank which appears in the film, Tell nPR that they hope that the Oscar victory can help prevent Israeli attempts to move them.

Israeli troops sought to expel the land villagers that Israel has deemed a military training area, and the Israeli settlers harassed and attacked the villagers.

“This film really means a lot for us. It increases our minds and helps us to move forward with confidence. It increases our morale even more,” said Mohammed Jabarin, who saw clips in the film.

Jabarin and his family say they have faced multiple attacks by Israeli settlers in the midst of Israeli repression in the West Bank since the attacks led by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Two weeks ago, a group of soldiers and settlers approached their house, pointing firearms, says Jabarin. Last year, he said that the settlers beat him and his sons.

Ahmed Majdalani, adviser to the president of the Palestinian authority, Mahmoud Abbas, described the Oscars to win a “great success” underlined by the Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers.

Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers say acceptance speeches

By accepting their Oscars, the Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers called for justice.

“About two months ago, I became a father and my hope for my daughter: that she will not have to live the same life that I live now,” said Palestinian and activist filmmaker Basel Adra. “”No other land Reflects the harsh reality that we have endured for decades, and always resist, while we call on the world to take serious actions, to stop injustice and to stop the ethnic cleaning of the Palestinian people. “”

“We made this film, the Palestinians and the Israelis, because together, our voices are stronger,” said Israeli filmmaker, journalist and activist Yuval Abraham.

He called at the end of Israeli destruction in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

“You do not see that we are intertwined? That my people can really be safe if the people of Basel are really free and safe? There is another way,” said Abraham, while members of the public applauded.

Daniel Estrin and Itay Stern reported Tel Aviv. Nuha Musleh reported to Ramallah, in the West Bank.