The Governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has apologized to Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” following reports of violence against him related to his artistic expression. Their letter acknowledged the oversight in not naming Ballal or the film directly in previous statements and condemned violence against artists. Ballal and fellow director Yubal Abraham expressed disappointment over the Academy’s initial inaction, which drew criticism from over 600 Academy members. In an open letter, these members emphasized the importance of protecting artists and their ability to tell stories without fear of retaliation, especially in light of the recent attacks in the Palestinian village of Suziya, which were linked to the documentary’s subject matter.
Ballal’s wife reported witnessing the attack on him, during which he was beaten by masked assailants. The violence occurred after “No Other Land,” which chronicles the demolition of a Palestinian village, gained attention. Following the incident, Ballal was taken into custody but later released with visible injuries, alleging the attack was a reaction to their film. The Academy’s leadership acknowledged their previous failures and reiterated their support for artists facing violence. This situation has highlighted the risks documentary filmmakers face in sharing their truths, prompting a call for increased support for such artists.
Source link
