Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and Iranian-born Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat, both beneficiaries of the new fund, expressed their reservations about being singled out in an exclusive Oscar category. Speaking at the Tokyo International Film Festival, as reported by Variety, Sadat articulated a feeling of discomfort with such a label. "I really do not like to be labeled, and even this label is displaced, you know, because I’m not seeing myself like I’m Shahrbanoo Sadat, the displaced filmmaker. This is funny, this is a joke to me," she stated, adding, "I’m not sure if I would love to be in the category of displaced, even if they give me the Oscar."

Rasoulof, whose film "The Sense of Water" was supported by the fund, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing his desire to concentrate solely on his craft. He noted that specific categories could inadvertently create divisions. This discussion follows the Academy's recent rule change, which allows films by exiled filmmakers to be considered for the general Oscar categories, a move that Clare Stewart of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) highlighted as already benefiting films like Rasoulof's "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," which represented Germany in a previous Oscar cycle.

Cate Blanchett, co-founder of the Displacement Film Fund, acknowledged the Academy's ruling as a significant step. She noted the profound impact of recognizing the challenges faced by artists globally due to conflict and displacement. "There’s so many wars and conflicts, and people displaced through no fault of their own, and often careers, artistic careers are interrupted. So the fact that the Academy is recognizing that, I think is, it sounds like a small thing, but it is very profound," Blanchett commented.

Launched in January 2025 at IFFR, the Displacement Film Fund emerged from a collaboration between Blanchett, a long-time UNHCR goodwill ambassador, and Yanai Koji of Fast Retailing (Uniqlo's parent company). The fund, managed by IFFR's Hubert Bals Fund, aims to bring stories from displaced individuals into the mainstream, challenging negative narratives. Its founding partners include Mastermind, Uniqlo, the Tamer Family Foundation, the Amahoro Coalition, and Dutch foundation Droom en Daad.

Its first cohort of filmmakers, unveiled at Cannes in 2025, includes Rasoulof, Sadat, Mo Harawe, Hasan Kattan, and Maryna Er Gorbach. These filmmakers are given complete creative freedom, with their stories not necessarily needing to address displacement directly. Rasoulof's "The Sense of Water" explores a migrant's solitude, while Sadat's "Super Afghan Gym" delves into feelings of discomfort within one's own body. Their films have already undergone Academy qualifying screenings in Los Angeles, with more scheduled for New York, ensuring wider visibility for these exceptional works.