Oscars refused to issue statement in support of kidnapped Palestinian filmmaker, co-director claims

nme.com:

Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.Ballal was released by Israeli authorities on Tuesday (March 25) after Abraham wrote on X the day before that his co-director had gone missing after being attacked.“A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land,” Abraham wrote. “They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding.

Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.”Reports of Ballal’s attack and detainment sparked a petition calling for his release, as well as statements from organisations such as the International Documentary Association.On Wednesday (March 26), Abraham criticised the Academy in a post on X for not issuing their own statement of support for Ballal.Sadly, the US Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers.The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals.

Several US…— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) March 26, 2025“Sadly, the U.S. Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers,” he wrote.“The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals.

Several U.S. Academy members — especially in the documentary branch — pushed for a statement, but it was ultimately refused.