Over 600 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have signed an open letter criticizing the Academy for their lack of public support for Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary. “No Other Land,” following his recent detainment by Israeli authorities.
Yuval Abraham, Ballal’s co-director, announced on X on Monday that Ballal was beaten by West Bank settlers and then arrested by Israeli forces. He sustained injuries to his head and stomach in the Palestinian village of Susiya, Masafer Yatta.
Ballal was released by Israeli forces on Tuesday.
According to Academy members, the organization sent a statement to on Wednesday with the subject line “Our Global Film Community.”
“Understandably, we are often asked to speak on behalf of the Academy in response to social, political, and economic events,” the Academy said. “In these instances, it is important to note that the Academy represents close to 11,000 global members with many unique viewpoints.”
“We are, however, united in a shared belief in the importance of storytelling, in the value of empathy, and in the role of film as a catalyst,” the organization added.
But many members believe the statement from leadership “failed to mention either Ballal or the film by name, nor did it describe the events it was responding to.”
“The statement by Bill Kramer and Janet Yang fell far short of the sentiments this moment calls for,” the statement read. “Therefore we are issuing our own statement, which speaks for the undersigned members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.”
As of Friday, the open letter has reached 633 signatures. Some members who have signed the letter as of Friday include Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh, Ava DuVernay, Penélope Cruz, Alfonso Cuaron, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Joaquin Phoenix.
Members shared an additional statement condemning the assault and detention of Ballal, as well as the Academy’s lack of action.
“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,” the letter read.
“It is indefensible for an organization to recognize a film with an award in the first week of March, and then fail to defend its filmmakers just a few weeks later,” the letter added.
Members praised the film, which won ‘Best Documentary’ feature at this year’s awards, for its impact and achievement despite not having the same resources as films with a wider distribution.
“For ‘No Other Land’ to win an Oscar without these advantages speaks to how important the film is to the voting membership,” members said. “The targeting of Ballal is not just an attack on one filmmaker—it is an attack on all those who dare to bear witness and tell inconvenient truths.”
The Academy did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment.
