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DOCUMENTARY, ARTICLE
The Other: A Documentary of Courage, Compassion & Coexistence
“An expansive exploration of the political and social realities in the region.” – Haaretz
“A powerful cinematic portrait of the seemingly hostile-to-solutions landscape in which Israeli-Palestinian relations unfold.” – The San Francisco Examiner
“Filmmaker Joy Sela captured the dueling narratives and systemic indoctrinations through her fantastic documentary, a must-watch for any advocate in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.” – The Knockturnal
“If you crave an escapist feature with a heartwarming ending, this is not the film for you. “The Other” is a complex mosaic of Israeli Jews & Palestinians.” – Lilith
More press:
The Forward
The San Francisco Chronicle
The Boston Globe
What Audiences Are Saying:
“I think it’s probably one of the most important films of the century that every Arab, Jew — f* it, human — needs to see.”
“This film helped me move past the events of October 7th in a way that honors humanity on each side of the wall without feeling like I’m betraying any part of my identity.”
“An extraordinary film that felt nothing short of transformative. These are vital, deeply human stories, the kind we all need to sit with and to truly hear. It’s a gift and it stays with you.”
“I am an Israeli-born American who has been struggling with the divisiveness of this conflict for years. This movie was so powerful and healing for me to watch. It gave me so much hope for the future. I had a cathartic experience watching the film.”
“Deeply touching, impactful, and mind bending. I see this movie leaving a huge impact. I was holding my breath the whole time and shedding tears.” – Palestinian-Jordanian American
“The Other is a unique film which does what very few documentaries do: take a complex situation and show it’s depth rather than try to simplify it to one or two angles! The richness of human experience, historic reference and difference in points of view by both Palestinians and Israelis is second to none and a rare look at the humanity of both sides.”
Contact 7th Art for the screener to preview the film.
Filmed from 2017-2024, including post October 7th and during the subsequent war, The Other focuses on Israeli & Palestinian peace-builders, anti-occupation activists, artists, academics, ex-fighters, bereaved parents and many more living the reality on the ground. Whether in non-violent co-resistance, peace-building, or shared community, we witness those who have only known each other through hate, bloodshed, inequality, and war, transcend beyond narratives & belief systems. They teach us that unlearning deep-seated conditioning is possible and that we can liberate ourselves from generational trauma, hatred and fear—no matter how ingrained and legitimate those fears are.
Joy Sela, The Director:
Joy Sela is a Jewish Israeli-American Director/Filmmaker based in New York. She spent 15 years in Digital & Experiential Marketing before pivoting to producing films. She started her own agency in 2011 where she currently serves as Creative Director. In 2016, Joy founded the Non-Profit, ‘Positive Disruption Fund’ alongside the Positive Disruption Brand, creating & supporting projects that inspire Positive Disruption. Joy launched We Uncover Films in 2017- telling stories that disrupt belief systems, challenge collective conditioning & explore transformation of self & society. She filmed, directed and produced her first feature documentary, ‘The Other’ from 2017-2024. ‘The Other’ won Indie Spec Best Documentary at a sold-out premiere in April 2024 and has gone on to win multiple awards, including another Best Documentary award in Rome. The Other is currently screening in festivals.
Making of the film:
This documentary is the culmination of my own personal journey. Growing up in an American-Israeli home and spending a part of my life living in Israel, I was well-versed in my Jewish/Israeli culture and narrative. Reflecting on my own journey of self discovery, I began working with themes of disrupting belief systems, challenging collective conditioning and transformation of self and society. Exploring this within the context of my own culture and background was the organic progression into my seven years working on this film. As I immersed myself deeper into the activism and peace-building communities, I was confronted with a new reality I had not yet known in this land and my whole paradigm shifted. I began focusing heavily on the Palestinian culture & narrative as I filmed and engaged in community within the West Bank and Palestinian areas within Israel. When faced with meeting my “other” and when faced with the reality on the ground in both mine and their homeland, I experienced the same transformation that I was documenting with my interview subjects.
Release of the film:
This documentary is the culmination of my own personal journey. Over the seven years I spent making this film, I was confronted with a new reality and my whole paradigm shifted. When faced with meeting my “other”, I experienced the same transformation that I was documenting with my interview subjects. This film is a tool for transformation, a shortcut for the viewer to meet and challenge their own conditioning and belief systems, and transcend beyond the illusion of separation. Leaving behind “us versus them” thinking and seeing the humanity of all- especially within an unequal power system- is something some may deem as passive or a cop out, but after the
many years I spent working on this, I can tell you with certainty that it proves to be much more challenging than the alternative. It is much easier to remain in your righteousness and root down into your own narrative, pain and suffering. It is much harder to hold space for a truth that contradicts your own and acknowledge pain and suffering from “the other side” while still experiencing your own. This is the extraordinary example set forth from the courageous individuals in this film. Given the enormity of recent events, their message of humanity has become even more relevant. In the face of such atrocities and polarization, The Other showcases another reality, an entire ecosystem of peace builders and activists in Israel/Palestine working together towards a better future predicated on peace and justice for all. It’s time we hear them.
Director’s Statement: