Filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land say they rejected a U.S. distribution offer from Mubi and will release the film themselves on digital platforms, citing concerns over the streamer’s investment ties. In an announcement tied to a new pre-order page, the team said the movie will be available to rent or buy in the United States beginning Oct. 20, with proceeds directed to communities in Masafer Yatta, the West Bank area documented in the film.
The directors—Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor—argued that accepting a deal backed by money from Sequoia Capital, an investor linked in press reports to an Israeli defense-tech firm, would run counter to the film’s message. A recent report also quoted Mubi’s chief executive reaffirming the company’s independence from investor views and condemning harm to civilians, as debate over the funding connection grew. The filmmakers said they turned to a fully independent release after larger U.S. platforms passed.
No Other Land follows efforts by residents of Masafer Yatta to resist displacement after the area was designated a military firing zone. The film’s profile has grown steadily since its February 2024 festival premiere, where it won top documentary honors, culminating in the Academy Award for best documentary feature. Despite that visibility, it navigated an unconventional U.S. rollout, first self-releasing in theaters and ultimately reaching $2.55 million domestic, according to box office data.
The decision to bypass a traditional streaming deal underscores the unusually charged environment for Palestinian stories in the U.S. marketplace. In a post announcing the digital launch, the team framed the move as a way to keep control over distribution and funnel revenue toward practical needs such as water, education and electricity projects in Masafer Yatta. A separate statement highlighted that 100 percent of U.S. digital proceeds will be donated.
The film will be offered on major transactional platforms, with Apple TV already taking pre-orders. The filmmakers and their supporters have encouraged audiences to rent or buy directly when it becomes available next week, while a streaming-subscription berth remains off the table for now.
