Switzerland Selects Gaza Documentary as 2027 Oscar Entry
Switzerland has officially selected the documentary ‘Who Is Still Alive’ by director Nicolas Wadimoff as the country’s representative to compete in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards. The selection was made by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC).
The film explores the lives of nine Palestinians who managed to flee Gaza. They recount their experiences as survivors and refugees facing the loss of their homes amidst the war in Gaza.
Rather than merely presenting an image of Gaza through news reports, the film places the personal experiences of the survivors at the centre of the narrative. Through their testimonies, viewers are invited to see life in the Gaza Strip before the war, the experience of fleeing, and how they confront loss, alienation, and displacement.
For director Nicolas Wadimoff, ‘Who Is Still Alive’ is his third film addressing Palestinian issues. He previously directed ‘Aisheen (Still Alive in Gaza)’, which examined the impact of the 2008 Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, and ‘The Apollo of Gaza’ in 2018.
Wadimoff stated that the selection of ‘Who Is Still Alive’ as Switzerland’s Oscar entry is a tremendous honour. He expressed hope that this moment would further amplify the aspirations of the real-life figures in the film.
‘This is a great honour that makes us very happy. At the same time, it is a huge responsibility to present the figures and voice the aspirations of the main characters in this film. They are all survivors of the hell of Gaza who faced unimaginable experiences, yet they survived and stand strong,’ Wadimoff said, as reported by Variety.
He also said this opportunity is a moment to champion values that have become part of Switzerland, namely humanism, humanity, dialogue, and respect for others. ‘We will do our best to prove that we are worthy of this selection,’ Wadimoff said.
The production process for the documentary ‘Who Is Still Alive’ was also very challenging. According to Swiss Films, the country’s film promotion body, the filming process with the main characters had to be carried out in South Africa. That country is one of the few that Palestinians from the Gaza Strip can enter without a visa.
The film had its world premiere in Venice in the Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days) sidebar programme in 2025. In early 2026, ‘Who Is Still Alive’ won the Prix de Soleure at the Solothurn Film Festival and was nominated for best documentary at the Swiss Film Awards.
The documentary continues to be screened at various international festivals, most recently in the Panorama Suisse segment at the 2026 Locarno Film Festival. In the United States, ‘Who Is Still Alive’ will be released in cinemas by Watermelon Pictures, the distributor that previously handled Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated film ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’.
In Switzerland, the film is distributed by First Hand Films. In France, the film is scheduled for a cinema release in October through distributor Una Mattina. Distribution rights for the film have also been sold for the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America.
The documentary ‘Who Is Still Alive’ was produced by Nicolas Wadimoff, Philippe Coeytaux, and Ketsia Stocker from the Geneva-based production house Akka Films. Nicolas Wadimoff is also the founder and producer of the company. Co-producers include Easy Rider Films (Paris), Philistine Films (Palestine/Jordan), Cocoon Films (London), and RTS Radio Television Suisse.
The 99th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on 14 March 2027. The submission deadline for the International Feature Film category is 30 September 2026.