The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has taken a firmer stance condemning an attack on Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal by Israeli settlers, following a letter signed by top members of the organization. Nearly 900 Academy members have expressed support for Ballal, who was attacked outside his home in the occupied West Bank. The initial response from Academy leaders was met with criticism, but after the backlash, they issued a statement of apology acknowledging Ballal’s work and expressing regret for not doing so earlier.
The letter, written by Ballal, Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, praises the signatories for standing against dehumanization and showing solidarity with Palestinian filmmakers. The four directors expressed gratitude for the support, which they say will help them continue their work despite the challenges they face. No Other Land, a documentary that won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, has been self-distributed in the US and Canada, earning over $2 million worldwide.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinian communities, with many critics accusing the Academy of being too slow to respond. The attack on Ballal is part of a larger issue of violence against Palestinians, with over 60,000 people killed by Israel in the last two years alone.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/03/no-other-land-thank-you-letter-to-academy-members-1236354936