Israel’s culture minister calls a Palestinian-Israeli film’s Oscar a ‘sad moment’

From left: Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham pose with their Oscar awards for best documentary for the film No Other Land in the press room at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. Mike Coppola/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Mike Coppola/Getty Images TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s culture minister has called the Oscar win of a joint Palestinian-Israeli documentary “a sad moment for the world of cinema.” Palestinian residents whose community’s struggles are depicted in the film called the award a morale boost. Oscars 2025 At Oscars, ‘No Other Land’ co-directors call for national rights for Palestinians The film No Other Land, about activists fighting Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, won the 2025 Academy Award for best documentary. The film also highlights the friendship between the Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers. The Israeli culture minister, Miki Zohar, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party, said in a social media post that the filmmakers “chose to amplify narratives that distort Israel’s image” around the world. He called it “sabotage” against the country, “especially in the wake of the October 7th massacre and the ongoing war.” Sponsor Message Middle East crisis — explained Trump wants Palestinians out of Gaza. Here are Egypt’s plans to keep them there Zohar said recent changes to Israeli public funding of film projects were intended to dry up support for such productions, which he called “an industry that builds its career on slandering Israel on the global stage.” In an interview with NPR, the head of Israel’s documentary film forum called the minister’s comments “shameful.” “We as a filmmakers community in Israel are facing challenges regarding free speech,” said Roni Aboulafia, the chairperson of the Israeli Documentary Forum. “We’re trying to continue to make this work and continue to tell the Israeli story as it is, without fear and without looking away.” Israel is minimizing public funding for similar films Last month, the Israeli government enacted major changes to the way it offers financial support for film projects, giving preference to commercial films with big box-office success. Movie Reviews Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers team up to create ‘No Other Land’ The change in policy has angered film industry leaders in Israel, who argue the change means less financial support for arthouse and independent films that deal with more politically sensitive subjects. Israel has also increased public funding for projects by Israeli filmmakers from West Bank settlements — the very enterprise that the film No Other Land criticizes as taking over Palestinian homes and land. No Other Land did not receive Israeli public funding. It was not screened in Israeli or Palestinian cinemas. The producers posted it for free viewing online. Sponsor Message Palestinians say the film “uplifts our spirits” Palestinian residents from Masafer Yatta, a community of West Bank villages that is featured in the film, tell NPR they hope the Oscar win can help prevent Israeli attempts to displace them. Israeli troops have sought to evict villagers from the lands which Israel has deemed a military training zone, and Israeli settlers have harassed and attacked villagers. Middle East Documentary ‘No Other Land’ looks at Palestinians forced from homes in the West Bank Documentary ‘No Other Land’ looks at Palestinians forced from homes in the West Bank Listen · 7:00 7:00 Transcript Download