Land of Canaan

Land of Canaan

Maggie Lemere

United States | 2026 | 87min | Color | Documentary

Land of Canaan is an environmental portrait that immerses viewers in the lives of Palestinian farmers and their ancient olive trees—living symbols of heritage and land stewardship. Centered on Dr. Nasser Abufarha, the film follows his return to the occupied West Bank, where he finds the olive harvest industry in crisis and leads a movement to protect a fragile ecosystem and generations of ecological knowledge. Through intimate portraits of farming families, Land of Canaan reveals how traditional Palestinian agriculture sustains both people and land. Many of the olive trees featured are more than 1,000 years old, rooted in regenerative, biodiversity-rich ecosystems shaped by centuries of permaculture practices.

The film explores how food sovereignty, fair trade, and environmental stewardship become acts of cultural survival under occupation. As violence, displacement, and environmental destruction threaten Palestinian land and livelihood, the documentary captures what is at stake—not only for one community, but for humanity's relationship to memory, land, and ecological resilience. It also highlights the work of Canaan Palestine and the Trees for Life initiative, which support over 2,400 artisan farming families across 52 villages and have helped plant more than 429,000 trees throughout the West Bank. Blending environmental storytelling with cultural preservation and human resilience, Land of Canaan offers a rare perspective on climate, ecology, and collective survival.

Preceded by Vs. Goliath: "Port Arthur"

Nate Birnbaum, Sam Eilertsen

United States | English | 36min | Color | Documentary