Film Academy apologizes for not naming ‘No Other Land’ co-director Hamdan Ballal after attack

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences faced significant backlash for its failure to address the attack on No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal in its initial response. Critics, including several high-profile film industry figures, expressed disappointment with the Academy's vague statement, which condemned violence but failed to mention Ballal directly. On Friday, the Academy issued an apology acknowledging the misstep. In a letter to members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed regret for not naming Ballal in their original statement. The new response emphasized the Academy’s condemnation of violence and its commitment to supporting free speech and artists worldwide. The apology came after over 600 Academy members, including notable actors such as Joaquin Phoenix, Olivia Colman, and Riz Ahmed, signed an open letter calling for stronger support for Ballal.

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was violently attacked by Israeli settlers while filming in the West Bank. According to witnesses, Ballal was beaten by settlers and then detained by the Israeli military. The attack occurred in the wake of his film’s Oscar win for Best Documentary, which had garnered significant international attention. Ballal and his fellow filmmakers were working on a film about the ongoing conflict in Masafer Yatta, a Palestinian region that has faced continued displacement due to Israeli military activities. After his release, Ballal described being singled out during the attack and identified the perpetrators' motivations by their use of his name in their assault. Despite being detained for over 20 hours, Ballal was later freed by Israeli forces, although the filmmakers have denied the allegations that they threw stones at settlers.

The incident has sparked outrage among human rights organizations and film industry professionals alike. Following the Academy’s initial response, Ballal’s fellow co-director Yuval Abraham expressed frustration with the lack of specificity in the Academy’s statement. Abraham and others emphasized the need for clear support for Ballal, especially given the violence he endured. A petition signed by more than 600 Academy members further criticized the institution's initial silence, calling it insufficient in light of the serious nature of the assault. High-profile figures in the film industry, including Emma Thompson, Javier Bardem, and Penélope Cruz, voiced their support for Ballal and condemned the attack, amplifying the global outcry. In response, the Academy issued its apology and reaffirmed its commitment to combating violence against artists.

No Other Land, the film at the center of the controversy, tells the story of the Palestinian Arab Bedouins living in Masafer Yatta, an area under Israeli military control since the 1980s. Despite being designated as a live-fire training zone, thousands of residents continue to live in the region, facing frequent demolitions of their homes and displacement. The documentary highlights these struggles, shedding light on the ongoing displacement of Palestinians from their homes. The film has garnered critical acclaim, including its Academy Award for Best Documentary, but struggled to find a U.S. distributor. Undeterred, the filmmakers self-released the film, which went on to gross over $2 million in North American theaters. The incident with Ballal has further brought attention to the documentary's subject matter and the broader geopolitical issues it explores.