The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has issued an apology for failing to mention Hamdan Ballal by name, following backlash regarding its initial reaction to the violent assault on the Oscar-winning co-director of No Other Land. According to the Associated Press, their statement denounced "violence of this kind anywhere in the world."

Academy issues apology in new statement

In a communication addressed to academy members on Friday, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed their regret for not providing a direct statement regarding Hamdan. Following a meeting of the academy's board of governors on the same day, Kramer and Yang issued a revised statement.

The statement conveyed, “We extend our sincere apologies to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt neglected by our earlier message. We wish to clarify that the academy unequivocally condemns violence of any form, regardless of its location,” they stated to the members. "We detest the infringement of free speech under any circumstances.”

What did Academy earlier say

On Wednesday, the academy issued a statement denouncing the act of "harming or suppressing artists due to their work or perspectives." Yuval Abraham, a journalist and co-director of No Other Land, expressed strong criticism of this response, likening it to "silence regarding Hamdan's assault."

Academy was criticised

On Friday, over 600 members of the academy, out of a total of 11,000, released an open letter expressing that the academy's previous statement "did not adequately reflect the sentiments required at this moment." Notable signatories included Joaquin Phoenix, Olivia Colman, Riz Ahmed, Emma Thompson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, and Jonathan Glazer, the director of The Zone of Interest.

About attack on Hamdan Ballal

Hamdan was assaulted by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and subsequently apprehended by the Israeli military. This incident occurred only weeks after he and his fellow directors received the Academy Award for Best Documentary, prompting widespread condemnation from various film organizations, among others.

After spending over 20 hours in detention, Israeli soldiers released him. Hamdan, along with two other Palestinians, faced accusations of throwing stones at a settler, which they refute. Following his release, Hamdan recounted to The Associated Press that a settler had kicked his head “like a football” during the assault on his village.

More about No Other Land

No Other Land, a collaborative production between Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, documents the circumstances in Masafer Yatta, an area that the Israeli military classified as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s, leading to the forced removal of its inhabitants, primarily Arab Bedouins. Approximately 1,000 residents have largely stayed in their homes, yet military personnel frequently enter to destroy houses, tents, water tanks, and olive groves.

Despite receiving significant praise, No Other Land was unable to secure a US distributor and was subsequently released independently in theaters. Nevertheless, it achieved over $2 million in box office revenue across North American theaters.

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