Los Angeles, California – After facing backlash for its initial response to the violent attack on acclaimed filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences issued an apology on Friday for not acknowledging Ballal by name. The incident occurred when Ballal, co-director of the award-winning documentary “No Other Land,” was reportedly assaulted by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and subsequently detained.
In a letter to academy members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed regret for the lack of a direct statement regarding Ballal. The attack on Ballal took place just weeks after his documentary won best documentary at the Academy Awards, drawing condemnation from various film organizations. In response, the Academy released a statement condemning any form of harm or suppression towards artists for their work or viewpoints.
Following the initial statement, journalist and co-director of “No Other Land,” Yuval Abraham, criticized the Academy’s response, citing a lack of acknowledgment of the assault on Ballal. Over 600 members of the Academy signed an open letter expressing dissatisfaction with the initial statement, including prominent figures like Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Thompson.
After a meeting by the Academy’s board of governors, Kramer and Yang issued a new statement apologizing to Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by the previous response. They emphasized the Academy’s condemnation of violence of any kind and the importance of upholding free speech.
Ballal, who was detained for over 20 hours by Israeli soldiers, was eventually released. He denied allegations of throwing stones at a settler and recounted being kicked in the head during the attack on his village. The documentary “No Other Land,” a joint Israeli-Palestinian production, sheds light on the challenging situation in Masafer Yatta, where residents face ongoing threats of home demolitions by the Israeli military.
Despite facing challenges in finding a US distributor, “No Other Land” garnered critical acclaim and surpassed $2 million in North American theaters before securing an Oscar win. The incident involving Ballal serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and condemning acts of violence against artists worldwide.