Academy Under Fire For Snubbing Hamdan Ballal, Issues Apology For Oversight
The Academy apologized for omitting Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal and his Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land from its initial statement condemning attacks on artists.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued an apology for omitting Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal and his Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land from its initial statement condemning attacks on artists, according to US media reports.
“On Wednesday, we sent a letter in response to reports of violence against Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal, co-director of No Other Land, connected to his artistic expression. We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Ballal and the film by name," a letter, signed by the Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang, addressed to the 11,000 members read.
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“We sincerely apologise to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement and want to make it clear that the Academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world. We abhor the suppression of free speech under any circumstances," the letter further read, according to Variety.
The apology follows an emergency meeting held by the Academy Board of Governors and top officials on Friday morning to address mounting criticism. The backlash escalated after 690 Academy members, including notable figures like Mark Ruffalo, Ava DuVernay, and Alfonso Cuarón, signed a letter condemning the Academy’s initial omission.
“We stand in condemnation of the brutal assault and unlawful detention of Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal by settlers and Israeli forces in the West Bank," the open letter from the Academy members read.
“To win an Oscar is not an easy task. Most films in competition are buoyed by wide distribution and exorbitantly priced campaigns… For No Other Land to win an Oscar without these advantages speaks to how important the film is to the voting membership. The targeting of Ballal is not just an attack on one filmmaker—it is an attack on all those who dare to bear witness and tell inconvenient truths," it further said.
The open letter gained traction globally, receiving backing from international film organizations and Academy members across various branches. Among the signatories were actors Olivia Colman, Joaquin Phoenix, Riz Ahmed, Penélope Cruz, Emma Thompson, Natasha Lyonne, Javier Bardem, Sandra Hüller, Richard Gere, Andrea Riseborough, and Susan Sarandon. Renowned directors like Boots Riley, Todd Haynes, Adam McKay, Jonathan Glazer, and Jim Jarmusch also lent their support.
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