Farmane-Ilahi

JERUSALEM (Web Desk) The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has come under fire for its failure to publicly support Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, who was recently attacked by Israeli settlers and detained by Israeli forces.

The Academy’s statement, released on Wednesday, condemned the suppression of artists but did not mention Ballal or his Oscar-winning film No Other Land, which he co-directed.

The statement, signed by CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang, acknowledged the diverse viewpoints of its global membership but failed to address the specific incident.

Ballal was detained following an attack by settlers on March 25, 2025. His co-director, Yuval Abraham, shared the news on social media, describing how Ballal was beaten and later detained by soldiers.

The Academy's silence on the matter drew criticism from Abraham and several members, who argued that the organisation should have defended its own Oscar-winning filmmaker.

The statement emphasised the Academy's commitment to supporting freedom of expression and condemned harm to artists, but some members felt the response was inadequate, particularly given Ballal's status as a recent honoree.

The backlash has sparked widespread debate about the Academy’s responsibility to support filmmakers facing political persecution.

Several film industry groups, including the International Documentary Association, have issued statements in support of Ballal.