Switzerland refused visas to Gaza survivors. Now their film is its Oscar choice

A documentary called "Who Is Still Alive" follows the stories of nine survivors of the assault on Gaza. Originally planned to be shot in Switzerland, the participants were denied Swiss visas and the film team had to relocate to South Africa, where they shot the film in just ten days on a sound stage. Now, Switzerland has chosen "Who Is Still Alive" as its official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

This has presented a new challenge for director Nicolas Wadimoff, who must now build an Oscar campaign around a film that relies heavily on the personal stories and silences of its subjects. Wadimoff notes that the film has no stars or actors, so their campaign will be built on the power of humanity. He recently held a private screening in Dubai to gather support and plans to travel to Los Angeles to raise more funds and introduce the film to Academy members.

Switzerland offered some financial assistance, but the filmmakers will need to raise additional funds. This marks Wadimoff's first Oscar campaign and he is still learning how to navigate the process. The film represents a significant opportunity for Wadimoff to bring the voices of the Palestinian people to the United States, a country whose government has played a significant role in the ongoing conflict.