On March 27th, approximately 600 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences penned an open letter expressing concern over the Academy’s perceived lack of support for director Hamdan Ballal of the film No Other Land, following his detainment by Israeli authorities. The letter asserts, “As artists, we rely on our freedom to narrate stories without facing repercussions.” It goes on to state that documentary filmmakers often put themselves in potentially dangerous situations to enlighten the world, and it is unjustifiable for an organization to honor a film with an award, then fail to protect its creators shortly thereafter. Among the notable signatories are Alfonso Cuarón, Riz Ahmed, Mark Ruffalo, Penélope Cruz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Todd Haynes, Olivia Colman, and Joaquin Phoenix. Additionally, Jonathan Glazer, director of the Holocaust drama Zone of Interest, who previously spoke out against Israel’s treatment of Gaza during his 2024 Oscars speech, also signed the letter.
Over 400 supporters of the statement come from AMPAS’s documentary division. The message by Bill Kramer and Janet Yang did not fully capture the sentiments required at this time. Consequently, we are releasing our own statement, which represents the opinions of the undersigned members within The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
On March 26th, a statement was issued by the Academy’s CEO Kramer and President Yang, without mentioning Ballal. The statement read: “The Academy strongly disapproves of harming or stifling artists due to their work or opinions.” Reflecting on our current era, which is characterized by upheaval and ambiguity worldwide, in the U.S., and within our own sector, it’s common for people to seek the Academy’s perspective on social, political, and economic matters. In such situations, it is crucial to remember that the Academy represents nearly 11,000 members with diverse viewpoints.
In the year 2025, the documentary film titled “No Other Land,” which chronicled Palestinians fighting against displacement in Masafer Yatta, was awarded the Best Documentary Feature Film at the Oscars. Ballal, a Palestinian resident, sustained injuries during an attack by Israeli settlers on Susiya, a village within the region, as reported on March 24. He was subsequently detained by the IDF but was later released on March 25, as confirmed by one of his co-directors for “No Other Land,” Yuval Abraham, via a tweet.
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2025-03-28 23:53