A tribute to the makers of The Voice of Hind Rajab and an unprecedented ovation The Palestinian flag flutters at the Venice Film Festival The Voice of Hind Rajab to represent Tunisia at the Oscars

The 2025 Venice International Film Festival witnessed an unprecedented moment with the world premiere of the film "The Voice of Hind Rajab", as the audience stood to honor the film and its creators, applauding continuously for 24 minutes—one of the longest ovations of the year.

Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kawthar Ben Hania, the film is based on the true story of Palestinian child Hind Rajab (5), who lost her life along with her family in Gaza after being trapped in a car targeted by Israeli fire while calling for help via phone to the Palestinian Red Crescent. To deepen the human dimension, the filmmakers used Hind’s real voice recordings, making them the emotional core of the film. The team emphasized before the screening: "The voice of Hind is not just the story of a child; it is the voice of all Gaza… the voice of a people seeking survival."

The Palestinian flag in the theater

After the screening, the film’s creators and cast raised the Palestinian flag inside the theater, amid audience chants of "Free, free Palestine", in a scene that transformed from a cinematic celebration into a powerful humanitarian message.

The film also received international production support from Hollywood stars including Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, and Brad Pitt, boosting its presence on the global cinema stage. With the overwhelmingly positive response, it has become one of the strongest contenders for the Golden Lion, with results set to be announced on September 6.

"The Voice of Hind Rajab" represents Tunisia

Alongside its success in Venice, the Tunisian National Center for Cinema and Image announced last week that "The Voice of Hind Rajab" has been selected to represent Tunisia in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. The center confirmed that an accredited committee from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved the nomination, verifying that the film meets all eligibility requirements and official criteria.