Mark Ruffalo, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem among celebrities slamming Oscars for ignoring attack on Palestinian director

Around 600 Oscar voters, including Ava DuVernay, Olivia Colman, and Javier Bardem, have signed an open letter criticising the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for failing to strongly support filmmaker Hamdan Ballal following his recent arrest.

The letter states: “It is indefensible for an organization to recognize a film with an award in the first week of March and then fail to defend its filmmakers just a few weeks later.”

Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for co-directing No Other Land, was attacked by settlers and arrested by Israeli forces in his hometown of Susiya, West Bank. His co-director, Yuval Abraham, said Ballal suffered head and stomach injuries and was later released.

In response, Academy leaders Bill Kramer and Janet Yang issued a statement that did not mention Ballal or No Other Land by name, simply stating that members may have “many unique viewpoints” on the issue. This vague response sparked backlash from Oscar voters.

Several Hollywood stars and filmmakers, including Mark Ruffalo, Emma Thompson, Richard Gere, Tony Kushner, and Jonathan Glazer, signed the letter. They condemned the attack on Ballal and emphasised that documentary filmmakers risk their lives to tell the truth.

“The targeting of Ballal is not just an attack on one filmmaker — it is an attack on all those who dare to bear witness and tell inconvenient truths,” the letter reads.

The Academy has yet to respond to the open letter. However, supporters of Ballal say they will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring that filmmakers like him receive the protection and recognition they deserve.