Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired the distribution rights for the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The agreement was finalized through negotiations between Elie Touma of Front Row and Stephanie Fuchs from the Austria-based sales company Autlook Filmsales.
Directed by Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, No Other Land chronicles Adra’s journey as he examines the devastation of his hometown, designated for military training. His efforts to raise awareness gain momentum with Abraham’s support.
The documentary made its debut at the 2023 Berlinale, winning the Panorama Audience Award as well as the prestigious Berlinale Documentary Award. Since its premiere, No Other Land has garnered a remarkable 68 awards at various film festivals and has been recognized by the Boston Society of Film Critics, European Film Awards and Gotham Awards, ultimately taking home the award for best documentary feature at the 2025 Oscars. This milestone marks the first time a documentary has won an Academy Award without a domestic distribution company attached.
Despite challenges in securing U.S. distribution, the filmmakers opted for self-distribution in partnership with Cinetic Media, which facilitated theatrical bookings. The film premiered Feb. 2 on a single screen, grossing $26,000 and continued to thrive for four additional weeks, surpassing the $1.2 million mark and expanding to 120 screens.
Earlier this year, Front Row released its second Netflix original, The Sand Castle, which made it into the top 10 for two weeks in over 77 countries on the streamer. The company has also released recent awards-hyped movies such as The Substance, The Apprentice and Emilia Pérez, and politically charged projects like 20 Days in Mariupol, Ali Abbasi’s Holy Spider and Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now
Gianluca Chakra, CEO of Front Row Filmed Entertainment, said: “In a world filled with dominant narratives, it is essential to consider diverse viewpoints. This film offers a unique perspective, bringing together filmmakers united by a just vision. The footage presented is both striking and unparalleled. We have a duty to make sure it reaches audiences. Through the lens of these filmmakers, the camera transforms into a potent tool for truth and resistance, safeguarding the history of their village.”
Front Row plans to imminently release the film theatrically in select cinemas, followed by a premium VOD release across the Middle East and North Africa.
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