AceShowbiz - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is under fire for its tepid response to the violent assault and subsequent detainment of Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land."

On March 24, Ballal was reportedly beaten by Israeli settlers and detained by the Israeli military in his home village of Susiya in the West Bank. The details were shared by Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham on social media, causing widespread concern among the film community.

Initially, the Academy released a statement that neither named Ballal nor mentioned "No Other Land." Instead, the Academy suggested the violent incident was something that the Oscars members would have "many unique viewpoints."

This response was criticized heavily for lacking specificity and failing to acknowledge the severity of the situation. The backlash came from across the industry, with over 600 academy members - including multiple Oscar winners -condemning the original tepid response.

A letter signed by prominent actors and filmmakers decried the Academy's failure to "defend its filmmakers just a few weeks after honoring them."

"We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Ballal and the film by name," stated Academy leaders Bill Kramer and Janet Yang in a follow-up letter. "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."

"No Other Land," which documents the Israeli demolition of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta, was celebrated at the Oscars for its poignant storytelling and its risks in exposing harsh realities. Many see the Academy's delayed and insufficient response as incongruent with the values they publicly uphold.

Acting under immense pressure, the Academy's follow-up statement was seen as a necessary correction, but for many, it remains too little too late.

"We stand in condemnation of the brutal assault and unlawful detention of Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal," the members' letter stated, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by filmmakers shedding light on contentious issues.