POCATELLO — An Oscar-winning documentary about life in the occupied West Bank will be the focal point of a fundraising event Saturday aimed at providing emergency aid to Palestinians affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The fundraiser and screening is organized by local humanitarian group Pocatello for Palestine in collaboration with the Idaho State University Democratic Socialists of America.

The free event runs from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pond Student Union Building in the Wood River Room. Proceeds will benefit The Sameer Project, a donation-based initiative led by Palestinians in the diaspora who are working to supply aid to displaced families in Gaza.

Pocatello for Palestine previously raised $1,700 from its last movie screening and fundraising event in September, which showcased “The Encampments,” a 2025 American documentary about the 2024 Gaza solidarity encampment and other pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses during the war in Gaza.

Mikayla Dungan, one of the organizers of the event, said Pocatello for Palestine’s intention is to engage in fundraisers, protests and other community work to get the word out about what’s happening in Palestine and provide information for actionable steps local residents can take to assist the Palestinian people.

“We are doing this fundraiser to raise funds for the Sameer Project,” Dungan said. “They help with emergency aid in Palestine. They donate tents. They’re helping restore different buildings there that have been destroyed.”

“No Other Land,” which won the Academy Award for best documentary feature earlier this year, will be shown at 2 p.m. The film follows Palestinian journalist Basel Adra and Israeli activist Yuval Abraham as they chronicle the demolition of Palestinian villages in the West Bank’s Masafer Yatta region between 2019 and 2023.

The film has drawn international attention for its ground-level perspective on displacement and destruction in the occupied territories. Despite its award-winning acclaim and long list of nominations, the documentary still does not have a U.S. distributor.

Following the screening, organizers will host a question-and-answer session discussing Palestinian history and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

An art sale featuring works by local artists will run throughout the event, including pieces incorporating traditional Palestinian motifs such as olive trees and Palestinian embroidery.

The event will also feature traditional Palestinian food like taboon and falafel, along with snacks, in an effort to share aspects of Palestinian culture with guests in attendance.

According to Dungan, the documentary screening and fundraiser is one of many planned efforts to address long-term needs as the conflict in Gaza continues.

“The intention is to provide material relief to families in Palestine who have been affected by the genocide,” Dungan said. “While the genocide is ongoing, we intend to keep doing these fundraisers. It’s our responsibility to help mitigate some of the financial burden that comes with rebuilding a country and potentially establishing yourself somewhere else.”

For those looking to contribute, they can visit The Sameer Project’s Instagram page at instagram.com/thesameerproject or donate directly at shorturl.at/uNyF6.