More than 500 Hollywood stars and industry leaders have signed a letter condemning the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its silence following the attack on Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal by Israeli settlers. The group, which includes Joaquin Phoenix, Sandra Oh, Emma Thompson, Ava DuVernay, and Adam McKay, among others, criticized the Academy’s response to Ballal’s detention as inadequate.
The letter states that the Academy’s email response failed to mention either Ballal or his film, “No Other Land”, by name. The group argues that this is unacceptable given the importance of the film to the voting membership. They also claim that the targeting of Ballal is not just an attack on one filmmaker but an attack on all those who dare to tell inconvenient truths.
The Academy’s actions are seen as a failure to support artists who risk their lives to expose the truth, particularly in cases involving Palestinian filmmakers. The letter concludes by stating that the group will continue to watch over Ballal and his team, as winning an Oscar has put their lives in danger.
This move comes after Ballal was arrested by Israeli forces while being treated for injuries sustained during a stone-throwing fight between Israelis and Palestinians. The incident has sparked widespread outrage among human rights activists and Palestinian advocates.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/joaquin-phoenix-sandra-oh-emma-184443358.html