Islamabad, Mar 29, 2025: A wave of outrage has spread through Hollywood as more than 600 Oscar voters, including Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Emma Thompson, Joaquin Phoenix, John Cusack, Susan Sarandon. Olivia Colman, signed an open letter criticizing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for its weak response to the violent arrest of Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal.
Following mounting pressure, the Academy has now issued an apology.
Academy Issues Apology After Backlash
In a new statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang admitted their initial response was inadequate.
“We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Hamdan Ballal and his film No Other Land by name,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologize to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous response and want to make it clear that the Academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world.”
The apology followed days of widespread criticism after AMPAS originally issued a vague statement that avoided mentioning Hamdan Ballal, his Oscar-winning documentary, or the circumstances of his arrest.
READ MORE:
Sana Safinaz Founders Receive Sitara-i-Imtiaz for Fashion Excellence
Hamdan Ballal’s Arrest Sparks Outrage
Ballal, co-director of No Other Land, which won Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards, was attacked and detained by Israeli forces and settlers in his hometown of Susiya, located in the occupied West Bank.
According to his co-director, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal suffered head and stomach injuries, was zip-tied and blindfolded, and was released the following day.
Hollywood Demands Accountability
The open letter, signed by hundreds of Academy members, accused AMPAS of failing to defend a filmmaker facing political persecution.
“It is indefensible for an organization to recognize a film with an Oscar and then fail to support its creators just weeks later,” the letter stated, emphasizing that Ballal’s targeting was part of a broader assault on documentary filmmakers who expose controversial truths.
The signatories warned that winning an Oscar has made Ballal and his team even more vulnerable. “This is not just an attack on one filmmaker it is an attack on all artists who dare to bear witness.”
Ongoing Support for No Other Land Team
The letter also noted that No Other Land achieved Oscar success without major studio backing, proving its importance to the voting members.
The signatories pledged to continue monitoring the safety of Hamdan Ballal and his colleagues, stating, “We will not mince words when the safety of fellow artists is at stake.”
AMPAS initially attempted to downplay the situation, releasing a generalized statement on March 16, which avoided directly mentioning Hamdan Ballal or his film.
