690 Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences members (AMPAS) signed an open letter criticising the Academy’s response to the attack of Palestinian Oscar-winner and No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal in the West Bank. The open letter stated that the reaction “fell short”, due to Ballal’s brutal treatment at the hands of the Israeli army and settlers earlier this month.
On Wednesday the Academy, co-signed by CEOs Bill Kramer and Janet Yang, sent a release to AMPAS members that condemned “harming or suppressing artists” following Ballal’s attack, although the letter did not mention Ballal by name.
“On 26 March 2025, the leadership of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences emailed its membership a statement with the subject line, ‘Our Global Film Community’,” the open letter began.
“The statement was ostensibly responding to the detention of Palestinian filmmaker and 2025 Best Documentary Feature Academy Award winner Hamdan Ballal, one of the directors of No Other Land, although it failed to mention either Ballal or the film by name, nor did it describe the events it was responding to.”
Ballal won the Oscar for ‘No Other Land’ earlier this month. (Source: Getty Images)
“We stand in condemnation of the brutal assault and unlawful detention of Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal by settlers and Israeli forces in the West Bank.
“Documentary filmmakers often expose themselves to extreme risks to enlighten the world. It is indefensible for an organisation to recognise a film with an award in the first week of March, and then fail to defend its filmmakers just a few weeks later.
“We will continue to watch over this film team. Winning an Oscar has put their lives in increasing danger, and we will not mince words when the safety of fellow artists is at stake.”
The 690 Academy members who signed the open letter include actors Mark Ruffalo, Natasha Lyonne, Olivia Colman, Emma Thompson, Sandra Oh, Penèlope Cruz, and more, as well as filmmakers Ava DuVernay, Denis Villeneuve, and Boots Riley.
Actor Mark Ruffalo was one of 690 signatures on the open letter. (Source: Getty)
Earlier this week, Ballal was detained by Israeli soldiers after being attacked by settlers in the West Bank, who beat him and filmed the assault in front of his home. Ballal, covered in bruises, told the Associated Press that soldiers also beat him while being detained.
“I realised they were attacking me specifically,” Ballal said in an interview via his hospital bed, per NBC News.
“When they say ‘Oscar’, you understand. When they say your name, you understand.”
Ballal talking to reporters about the attack on Wednesday. (Source: Getty)
The Academy then released a follow-up letter on Friday, responding to criticism that the original letter did not bring up Ballal or No Other Land.
“On Wednesday, we sent a letter in response to reports of violence against Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal, co-director of No Other Land, connected to his artistic expression,” the second letter read.
“We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Ballal and the film by name. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement and want to make it clear that the Academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world.”
Kramer and Yang co-signed the second letter.
