AMPAS Apologizes for Lack of Support for Oscar-Winning Director Hamdan Ballal After Detention by Israeli Police

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) issued a formal apology on Friday after facing massive backlash for its lack of public support for Oscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal, who was detained by Israeli police earlier this week in the West Bank.

The controversy began when AMPAS released a statement on Wednesday condemning violence against artists, but did not specifically mention Ballal, the co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. This omission sparked criticism from the film industry, prompting a letter to circulate among AMPAS members calling out the leadership’s failure to defend Ballal. The letter, which was signed by around 600 Oscar voters, including Ava DuVernay, Olivia Colman, Javier Bardem, and others, criticized the Academy for failing to support Ballal, who was arrested and assaulted by Israeli forces in his hometown of Susiya during a confrontation with settlers.

In response to the outcry, the Academy issued a follow-up letter on Friday, explicitly naming Ballal and apologizing for the previous lack of acknowledgment. The letter, signed by AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang, read: “We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Ballal and the film by name. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement and want to make it clear that the Academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world.”

The apology comes after AMPAS leaders were initially criticized for suggesting that Ballal’s detention involved “many unique viewpoints.” Celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, Jonathan Glazer, Emma Thompson, and Richard Gere were among those who signed the open letter, emphasizing that the Academy’s failure to defend Ballal was indefensible. The letter highlighted that “winning an Oscar has put their lives in increasing danger,” and vowed to continue supporting Ballal and his team.

Ballal, whose documentary No Other Land tells the story of a Palestinian family displaced by Israeli government actions, was reportedly injured during his detention, suffering head and stomach injuries. He was zip-tied, blindfolded, and released the following day. Co-director Yuval Abraham confirmed the assault, stating that Ballal was targeted for his work that exposed difficult truths about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The incident has led to a broader discussion about the safety of filmmakers who address controversial issues and the responsibility of organizations like AMPAS to protect and defend their members.