ALBAWABA - The Academy apologizes for omitting Hamdan Ballal in its statement after backlash from industry members.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released a new statement after facing widespread criticism for not publicly supporting Palestinian director Hamdan Bilal, who was recently arrested by Israeli forces.
In an official letter to its 11,000 members, the organization acknowledged its mistake of not mentioning Bilal or the film "No Other Land" in its previous statement and issued an apology.
The Academy sent a letter on Friday that explicitly named Ballal and included an apology for the omission of both him and the film in a statement released earlier in the week.
The letter stated, "On Wednesday, we dispatched a letter replying to reports that Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Academy Award-winning film 'No Other Land,' has experienced violence connected to his artistic expression."
The statement went on, "We regret that we did not make direct mention of Mr. Bilal and the film. We would also like to express our sincere apologies to Mr. Bilal and all the artists who felt unsupported by our earlier statement. We assert that the Academy denounces this kind of violence globally. We oppose the curtailment of freedom of expression in all situations.
The apology followed an emergency meeting of the Academy's board of directors on Friday morning, as protests among its members intensified. On Wednesday, the Academy released a statement denouncing violence against artists. However, it did not specifically name Bilal, which caused anger within the film industry.
(FILES) Palestinian filmmaker and Oscar winner for the documentary "No Other Land" Hamdan Ballal(Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
In a further escalation, an open letter began to circulate among Academy members that called for a more robust response. As of Friday, the letter had garnered signatures from 690 members, including well-known figures like Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh, Olivia Colman, Joaquin Phoenix, Riz Ahmed, Penelope Cruz, Emma Thompson, and Richard Gere. Renowned directors such as Alfonso Cuarón, Ava DuVernay, Adam McKay, and Jim Jarmusch also signed.
The letter further stated, “We condemn the brutal assault and unlawful detention of Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Bilal by Israeli settlers and forces in the West Bank. Attacking Ballal is not merely an assault on a single filmmaker; it is an assault on all who have the courage to testify and reveal unsettling realities.
Yuval Abraham, the co-director of the film, expressed his disappointment despite the Academy's apology, feeling that a clear stance from the Academy was long overdue.
He posted on X, “The Academy had a chance to demonstrate bravery and unity but opted for silence.”
Following an assault by Israeli settlers close to his residence in the West Bank village of Susya, Ballal was taken into custody. As reported by eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers extracted him from an ambulance while he was being treated. They then transported him to a military base, where he remained detained for 24 hours before his release.
In a hospital bed, Bilal told ABC News, "They attacked me for 15-20 minutes. I was bleeding profusely. My entire body ached.
He mentioned that during his detention, Israeli soldiers ridiculed him and referenced his Oscar victory. He rejected the Israeli allegations of throwing stones as well.
In "No Other Land," the tale of a Palestinian community in the West Bank grappling with displacement at the hands of Israeli forces is recounted. Even with its Academy Award victory, the film was not widely commercially distributed, leading its team to self-release it after distributors declined to take it on.
The film debuted at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival, securing both the Jury and Audience Awards. However, it has continued to encounter substantial political challenges, including Bilal's recent arrest.
