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Academy Faces Backlash Over Lack of Support for Award-Winning Director
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held an urgent meeting to discuss its inadequate response to the arrest and detention of Hamdan Ballal, the Oscar-winning director of the documentary No Other Land, by Israeli forces. This meeting, which took place on Friday morning Pacific time, was initially reported by Deadline and follows a public outcry from several high-profile industry figures.
A letter signed by prominent members, including actors Olivia Colman, Javier Bardem, Joaquin Phoenix, Penélope Cruz, and Emma Thompson, as well as directors Ava DuVernay and Alfonso Cuarón, expressed disappointment at the Academy’s initial response, which failed to mention Ballal or his film specifically. Instead, the statement noted the diverse viewpoints among Academy members, a stance that many found insufficiently strong.
“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 stated. It emphasized the vital role that artists have in sharing their stories and the extreme risks documentary filmmakers often face to shed light on important issues.
The signatories pointed out the hypocrisy of awarding a film just weeks prior and then neglecting to defend its creators. Ballal, one of the four directors of the film that won Best Documentary at the Oscars on March 2, was allegedly attacked by Israeli settlers and subsequently taken into custody by Israeli forces. He recounted being beaten while his assailants made references to No Other Land, a documentary chronicling the struggles of Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area, which itself has faced criticism from Israeli authorities.
In a statement issued after criticism from Yuval Abraham, the film’s co-director, Academy president Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer condemned the suppression of artists but did not mention Ballal or his work. They highlighted the Academy’s commitment to representing its nearly 11,000 members with diverse perspectives while remaining cautious about publicly expressing opinions on political matters.
Abraham responded to their statement on social media, noting that the silver lining of their critique fell short of the current crisis’s urgency and diminishing parallels to the past, specifically referring to a stronger response the Academy made in 2011 regarding Iranian filmmakers’ detention.
The updated letter opposing Yang and Kramer’s response indicates ongoing discontent, asserting it does not adequately reflect the gravity of the situation. It continued to gather support from many in the industry, including actors Mark Ruffalo, Riz Ahmed, and documentarians like Laura Poitras and Alex Gibney, all underscoring the collective stance against attacks on creators.
The letter further articulated that winning an Oscar is a notable achievement that often requires significant resources and marketing, and for No Other Land to succeed without those advantages underscores its importance to Academy voters. The targeting of Ballal, they asserted, represents a threat to all artists who challenge the status quo with their art.
In conclusion, the signatories reiterated their commitment to monitoring the safety of the film’s team, remarking that the recent accolades could increase their risk. They emphasized their resolve to advocate for fellow artists when their safety is compromised.
Support for Ballal has also emerged from various film organizations, with CPH:DOX, the European Film Academy, and the International Documentary Association all issuing statements condemning the treatment of the director by Israeli authorities.
Source
www.theguardian.com