Academy apologizes for omitting ‘No Other Land’ director Hamdan Ballal in statement

The Academy apologizes for failing to name Hamdan Ballal in a statement after his detainment sparked global outrage.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has apologized for failing to name Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," in its initial statement regarding reports of his detention by Israeli forces.

In a follow-up letter sent Friday, the Academy acknowledged its mistake, stating: “We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Ballal and the film by name. We sincerely apologize… The Academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world.”

The apology comes after an outcry from over 700 Academy members, including Mark Ruffalo, Ava DuVernay, Alfonso Cuarón, Olivia Colman, and Joaquin Phoenix, who signed a letter condemning AMPAS for its lack of public support. The letter described Ballal’s detainment as “an attack on all those who dare to bear witness and tell inconvenient truths.”

Ballal was reportedly assaulted and detained by Israeli soldiers near his home in the West Bank village of Susiya before being held for 24 hours. Speaking from a hospital bed, he recounted fearing for his life and claimed soldiers mocked his Oscar win while detaining him.

"No Other Land," co-directed by Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, and Rachel Szor, highlights the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. Despite critical acclaim, the film faced distribution challenges in the U.S.

The Academy’s response follows statements from the European Film Academy and International Documentary Association, which had already expressed support for Ballal.