Tue Apr 01 07:19:32 UTC 2025: ## Oscar-Winning Filmmakers Thank Academy Members After Condemnation of Attack
**Los Angeles, April 1, 2025** – The filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” have expressed gratitude to Academy members who publicly condemned the attack on one of their team, Hamdan Ballal. Ballal, a Palestinian filmmaker, was severely beaten by Israeli civilians and soldiers in a settler attack on his village on March 24th.
Following the initial Academy statement, which was deemed insufficient by many, over 600 members, including prominent actors such as Joaquin Phoenix, Olivia Colman, and Emma Thompson, signed an open letter demanding a stronger condemnation of the violence.
In response to this pressure, and the outpouring of support for Ballal, the Academy issued a revised statement apologizing for its initial response and explicitly condemning the attack and suppression of free speech.
Ballal, who was kept blindfolded for over 20 hours, has since recovered and returned home to his children. In a note to the letter’s signatories, the “No Other Land” team expressed how the Academy members’ actions were deeply moving and politically significant, especially given the ongoing attacks on the Masafer Yatta community. The filmmakers’ heartfelt thanks highlight the power of collective action in advocating for justice and freedom of expression within the global film community.
First Piper 