The Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land is to be self-released on US streaming platforms next week after a rejection of a Mubi offer.
The film, which follows the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta by Israeli forces, was self-released in US cinemas after it could not find distribution. It won the best documentary Oscar and made $2.5m at the US box office.
No Other Land will be made available to watch at home for the first time in the US on Monday.
The Palestinian-Israeli collective behind the film rejected a deal from Mubi, the company behind hits such as The Substance, after controversy over its ties to an investment firm linked to the Israeli military.
“This film shows the reality of Israeli occupation and oppression against Palestinians – but that truth apparently didn’t fit the narrative that big US streamers wanted to promote,” said co-director Basel Adra.
Co-director Yuval Abraham added: “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.”
The film-makers have also announced that 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta.
Mubi faced backlash earlier this year when it was announced it had secured $100m in funding from Sequoia Capital. The firm is linked to Kela, a defense tech firm founded in July 2024 by four veterans of the Israeli military. Kela is currently developing a battlefield operating system enabling militaries to integrate AI with commercial technology.
A list of film-makers, including Joshua Oppenheimer and Miguel Gomes, called on Mubi to cut ties with the firm.
“The beliefs of individual investors do not reflect the views of Mubi,” a statement read in defence of the relationship. “We take the feedback from our community very seriously, and are steadfast in remaining an independent founder-led company.”
At this year’s Venice film festival, the drama The Voice Of Hind Rajab, about a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, won a number of awards, including the Grand Jury prize. It since garnered celebrity support from executive producers Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix, yet it remains without US distribution.
A source claimed to Deadline that “buyers are passing out of fear”.
The recent Gaza ceasefire agreement comes after the deaths of about 66,000 Palestinians.
