Academy Apologizes to No Other Land Director Hamdan Ballal

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As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it as follows: After receiving criticism for not explicitly addressing the omission of Hamdan Ballal, director of the film “No Other Land,” from a previous statement following reports of his attack in the West Bank, the Academy has issued an apology. In their new letter, they acknowledge, “On Wednesday, we responded to reports of violence against Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal, co-director of ‘No Other Land.’ We regret that we failed to directly recognize Mr. Ballal and his work by name.” The Academy expresses their sincere apologies to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt they were not supported by the initial statement, making it clear that they unequivocally condemn such violence worldwide. They firmly denounce the suppression of free speech under any circumstances. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang signed off on this letter.

In its original statement on Wednesday, the Academy made no mention of Ballal; however, it was disclosed on March 24 that he had been brutally assaulted by Israeli settlers and subsequently apprehended by the Israeli military. He was released on Tuesday. The original letter from the Academy stated, “We strongly denounce any harm or suppression inflicted upon artists due to their work or opinions.” Given the current global turmoil, marked by conflict and unrest, it’s not unusual for people to seek the Academy’s perspective on social, political, and economic matters. It’s crucial to remember that the Academy encompasses nearly 11,000 members worldwide, each with distinct viewpoints.

Following the posting of the apology on X, co-director Yuval Abraham acknowledged it promptly. He wrote, “The American Academy has apologized to Hamdan for failing to mention his name after he was attacked by Israeli settlers. This came following strong opposition from over 600 Academy members who were deeply troubled by the initial response.

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2025-03-29 08:54