Film on Palestinian girl ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ receives Oscar nomination

The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film inspired by the final moments of a young Palestinian girl trapped under Israeli fire in Gaza, has been nominated for an Oscar for the best international film category, marking a significant moment for Arab and international cinema.

Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film is based on the true story of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed in Gaza in January 2024 while fleeing Israeli bombardment with members of her family. Central to the film is the real audio of Hind’s desperate phone call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, pleading for help before the vehicle she was in was reportedly hit with over 300 bullets.

The film premiered in September 2025 at the Venice International Film Festival, where it quickly became one of the most talked-about entries. Its first screening was followed by a record-setting 23-minute standing ovation. Days later, The Voice of Hind Rajab was awarded the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, the festival’s second-highest honor.

Accepting the award in Venice, Ben Hania dedicated the film to humanitarian workers and first responders operating in Gaza, saying Hind’s voice symbolized the voices of countless civilians caught in war. She described the project as an attempt to preserve memory and dignity through cinema, rather than to recreate violence on screen.

Ben Hania said the film was intended to “give voice to victims who are often reduced to numbers,” emphasizing that the story was not only about one child, but about civilians whose suffering is rarely fully heard.

The Oscar nomination crowns a remarkable international run for the film, which has been widely praised for its restrained direction and ethical approach to portraying real-life tragedy.