Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem to Executive Produce Jordan’s Oscar Hopeful ‘All That’s Left of You’
There’s something electric happening in Hollywood right now, and it involves two of the industry’s most passionate advocates stepping up as executive producers for what might be this year’s most important Oscar submission. Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem have thrown their considerable star power behind “All That’s Left of You,” Jordan’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
This isn’t just another celebrity endorsement deal—this feels deeply personal for both actors, who have consistently used their platforms to champion humanitarian causes. The film, directed by Palestinian American filmmaker Cherien Dabis, tells a sweeping multigenerational story that spans seven decades, following a Palestinian family from their expulsion from Jaffa in 1948 to the present day.
Why This Film Matters Right Now
Mark Ruffalo, known for his unwavering commitment to social justice both on and off screen, didn’t mince words about why he joined the project. “This film offers another possibility: the chance to move toward collective healing and a more just and peaceful future,” Ruffalo told Deadline. Coming from an actor who’s never shied away from controversial topics, these words carry real weight.
Javier Bardem, the Spanish Oscar winner who recently made headlines for wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf to the Emmys, brings his own brand of fearless advocacy to the project. “I am proud and honored to join her in bringing this film to audiences everywhere at this most urgent moment,” Bardem declared, emphasizing that this is “a story that will stay with you for years to come.”
A Production Born from Necessity and Timing
(Trailer of All That’s Left of You, Courtesy of Watermelon Pictures)
Here’s where the real-world drama gets intense: the film was originally supposed to shoot in Palestine, but the ongoing conflict in Gaza forced the production to relocate to Cyprus, Jordan, and Greece. This logistical challenge somehow made the final product even more poignant—a film about displacement that was itself displaced during creation.
The cast includes real-life father and sons Mohammad Bakri, Saleh Bakri, and Adam Bakri, bringing an authenticity that you simply can’t manufacture. Dabis not only wrote and directed the film but also stars in it, creating what insiders are describing as her most personal work yet.
Watermelon Pictures and Dabis’ new company Visibility Films have mapped out a strategic release plan that screams Oscar campaign. The film will begin its qualifying run in Los Angeles on November 28, 2025, followed by select cities on January 9, 2026, before going nationwide.
This timing puts “All That’s Left of You” squarely in the middle of awards season conversations, with Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem serving as high-profile champions who can open doors and generate crucial buzz. Both actors have significant Academy connections—Ruffalo as a three-time Oscar nominee and Bardem as a previous winner for “No Country for Old Men.”
The Perfect Storm of Talent and Timing
What makes this collaboration so compelling is how it brings together artistic excellence with moral courage. Dabis, whose previous films “Amreeka” and “May in the Summer” both premiered at Sundance, has crafted something that festival programmers are calling extraordinary. The film has the rare distinction of being selected for both Sundance and Telluride—a feat that speaks volumes about its quality and impact.
The story begins in the Occupied West Bank of the 1980s, where a Palestinian teenager gets swept into a protest that changes everything for his family. From there, it unfolds like an emotional time capsule, revealing how one family’s story connects to decades of displacement and resilience.
What Industry Insiders Are Saying
The film industry is watching this project with unusual intensity. Having two A-list actors sign on as executive producers for a politically charged international film sends a clear message about Hollywood’s willingness to engage with difficult subjects. Both Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem are signatories of the Workers for Palestine pledge, boycotting Israeli film institutions in protest of the ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
This isn’t just about making a statement—it’s about using star power to amplify stories that might otherwise struggle to find mainstream audiences. When actors of this caliber put their names and reputations behind a project, it transforms from art house curiosity to must-see cinema.
The Bigger Picture: Art as Activism
What is particularly interesting is the way Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem are depicting their involvement to present the film as one that goes beyond being a political propaganda but rather essential human storytelling. Ruffalo stated that the film “reminds us that even in the face of unimaginable loss, our way forward is empathy.”
This could be a very clever and effective way of awards season, which would let the film be recognized as a universal story of family, survival, and hope rather than a political one-piece. It is precisely the kind of delicate communication that can allow a foreign-language film to reach the mainstream audience in the United States.
These two actors have been a great pair for the media chatter that the entered the coverage of the forthcoming Oscars among the most talked-about submissions of the year. Because this movie is telling such an important story of people’s lives, Mark and Javier want the movie to be more than just a film. In an interview at Oscars this year, they talked about how important this film is to them and how it isn’t just another ‘producing credit’. They believe that the world needs to hear this story.
The next question will be whether their celebrity power will be able to get “All That’s Left of You” out of the masses and into the limelight of critical acclaim and Oscar gold, which will be the focus of the awards season.
