The film, which re-enacts the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab and her family in Gaza City in January 2024, premiered on Wednesday at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the screening left audiences in tears and set a new festival record, surpassing Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth ovation at Cannes in 2006.
A Story of Loss and Resistance
The Voice of Hind Rajab depicts the final moments of Hind, her four cousins, aunt, uncle, and two paramedics who were killed after their car was struck by Israeli fire. Hind’s desperate plea for rescue, captured in real audio recordings, anchors the film’s emotional core.
Actor Motaz Malhees raised a Palestinian flag inside the theater as chants of “Free Palestine” erupted. Many in the audience wept, some still visibly shaken after the nearly 24-minute applause.
Hollywood figures including Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Brad Pitt, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer joined the film as executive producers. Phoenix and Mara attended the red carpet event, holding up a photo of Hind Rajab with the cast.
Oscar Path and Global Attention
Tunisia has submitted the film as its official entry for Best International Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards, where it is expected to be a strong contender.
Ben Hania is no stranger to the Oscars—her previous films Four Daughters and The Man Who Sold His Skin were nominated in 2024 and 2021 respectively.
Speaking at a Venice press conference, actress Saja Kilani said:
“Enough of the mass killing, the starvation, the dehumanisation, the destruction, and the ongoing occupation. Hind’s story carries the weight of an entire people. It is the voice of every daughter and every son with the right to live and dream in dignity.”
Reactions and Reviews
The premiere coincided with protests on Venice’s Lido, where demonstrators demanded an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with nearly a third being children.
Critics have described the film as both urgent and unsettling. Deadline’s Damon Wise called it “extraordinary” and “a lightning rod for the Free Palestine movement.” Variety’s Guy Lodge praised its “crushing drama” while questioning its ethics. The Hollywood Reporter noted its “heart-wrenching urgency.”
Key Facts
- Film: The Voice of Hind Rajab
- Director: Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia)
- World Premiere: September 3, 2025, Venice Film Festival
- Standing Ovation: 23 minutes, a new festival record
- Producers: Nadim Cheikhrouha, Odessa Rae, James Wilson
- Executive Producers: Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Brad Pitt, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Glazer
- Oscar Submission: Tunisia’s entry for Best International Feature, 2026
