The filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land will self-release the film on U.S. streaming platforms beginning October 20. The team said platforms will include Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and YouTube, and that 100% of VOD proceeds will go directly to Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta, the occupied West Bank region depicted in the film, which documents Israeli settler violence and Palestinian displacement.
In a press release Friday, the team revealed it had previously negotiated a U.S. streaming deal with Mubi but ultimately decided to “reject” the pact after learning of Mubi’s widely reported financial backing from Sequoia.
This film shows the reality of Israeli occupation and oppression against Palestinians — but that truth apparently didn’t fit the narrative that big U.S. streamers wanted to promote. We talked to Mubi for months, and initially thought our film had found its home, but in the end we learned that they were accepting a huge investment from Sequoia Capital.
said co-director Basel Adra.
In addition to being unethical, it made no sense to us that they would take our film showing Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, and then also partner with a company contributing to that oppression.
added co-director Yuval Abraham.
Sources confirmed Mubi was close to closing the deal in summer before talks went silent. Mubi declined to comment. Mubi has faced backlash after taking investment from Sequoia, which has ties to Kela — an Israeli military tech firm launched after the 2023 Gaza offensive. Dozens of filmmakers signed a petition opposing the investment, prompting Mubi owner Efe Cakarel to defend the company and declare an anti-war stance.
No Other Land was self-distributed theatrically in the U.S. earlier this year, earning $2.5M. While major streamers passed, arthouse theatrical offers were on the table but declined. Mubi has licensed the film in some European territories (Italy and Germany) via local distributors.
The film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective documents the destruction of Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist. It premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, screened globally, and went on to win the Oscar for Documentary Feature.
Settler violence in the West Bank has continued. Two months ago, Awdah Hathaleen a collaborator on No Other Land, was shot and killed by an Israeli settler.
Source: Deadline