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Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Issues Apology to “No Other Land” Co-Director Hamdan Ballal After Backlash
NEW YORK – Following substantial criticism regarding its preliminary reaction to the violent assault on Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” co-director Hamdan Ballal, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued an apology. The Academy on Friday expressed regret for its initial failure to explicitly acknowledge Ballal by name in their statement addressing the incident.
Regret Over Initial Response
In a communication addressed to academy members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang articulated their remorse for not releasing a direct declaration concerning Ballal’s situation. According to eyewitness accounts, the filmmaker was reportedly assaulted by Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Monday, subsequently being detained by the Israeli military.
Widespread Condemnation of Attack
The attack, occurring shortly after Ballal and his fellow filmmakers received the prestigious Best Documentary Oscar, was widely denounced by numerous organizations within the film industry and beyond. In a prior statement released on Wednesday, the Academy conveyed its disapproval of “harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints.”
Criticism of Academy’s Initial Statement
Yuval Abraham, a journalist and co-director of “No Other Land,” voiced strong disapproval of the Academy’s initial response, equating it to “silence on Hamdan’s assault.” This sentiment was echoed by a significant number of academy members.
Open Letter from Academy Members
On Friday, over 600 of the Academy’s 11,000 members demonstrated their concern by issuing an open letter. The letter stated that the Academy’s initial statement “fell far short of the sentiments this moment calls for.” Notable signatories included prominent figures such as Joaquin Phoenix, Olivia Colman, Riz Ahmed, Emma Thompson, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, and Jonathan Glazer, the filmmaker behind “The Zone of Interest.”
Academy Board Responds with Apology
Following a meeting held on Friday by the Academy’s board of governors, Kramer and Yang issued a revised statement in response to the growing criticism.
Direct Apology and Condemnation of Violence
“We sincerely apologize to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement. We want to unequivocally state that the Academy condemns violence of this nature, irrespective of location,” Kramer and Yang wrote to the members. “We abhor the suppression of free speech under any circumstances.”
Details of Ballal’s Detention and Allegations
After being held for over 20 hours, Ballal was released by Israeli forces. He, along with two other Palestinians, had been accused of throwing stones at a settler, accusations they refute. Speaking to The Associated Press following his release, Ballal recounted that a settler kicked him in the head “like a football” during the attack in his village.
Ballal’s Account of the Attack
“I realized they were singling me out,” Ballal stated from a West Bank hospital on Tuesday after being released. “When they say ‘Oscar’, you understand. When they say your name, you understand.”
“No Other Land” and its Subject Matter
“No Other Land,” a collaborative Israeli-Palestinian cinematic work, documents the conditions in Masafer Yatta. The Israeli military designated this area as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s, leading to expulsion orders for its residents, predominantly Arab Bedouin. Approximately 1,000 residents have remained in the area despite the orders. They face regular incursions from soldiers who demolish residences, tents, water storage, and olive groves.
“No Other Land” Success Despite Distribution Challenges
Despite widespread critical acclaim and recognition culminating in an Oscar win, “No Other Land” initially struggled to secure a U.S. distributor. Ultimately self-released in theaters, the documentary film has nonetheless achieved notable success, surpassing $2 million in North American box office earnings.