ISLAMABAD: A Gaza-centered docudrama that has already won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival is now at the center of global attention after scoring a Golden Globe nomination for Best non-English language film, one of the first major Western awards to recognize a film about the 2023-24 war in Gaza.
"The Voice of Hind Rajab” is supported by some of Hollywood’s most influential names and has rapidly become a defining cultural moment of this awards season.
The filmmaker: Kaouther Ben Hania
Ben Hania, Tunisia’s most internationally celebrated filmmaker, is known for hybrid forms that blend documentary and fiction, including the Oscar-nominated “Four Daughters” and “The Man Who Sold His Skin.” Her films often explore moral unease and political trauma.
At Venice, she said: “The Voice of Hind is the voice of Gaza itself … Her voice will continue to echo until accountability is real.” She told AFP that the project arose from “a lot of anger, a lot of despair” after learning of Hind Rajab’s killing.
Ben Hania also said she and her team received threatening emails following the premiere, noting the messages were “super intimidating,” AFP reported.
Hollywood heavyweights
This film is backed by around 39 producers, according to the movie database IMDB.
Brad Pitt, through his production company Plan B Entertainment, plays a pivotal role as one of the project's producers. Plan B’s track record includes acclaimed works such as "Moonlight" (2016), "12 Years a Slave" (2013), and "Selma" (2014), each tackling themes of systemic injustice and historical trauma.
Odessa Rae, the American producer behind the Academy Award-winning documentary “Navalny,” also joined, bringing her profile in human rights-focused storytelling.
British producer James Wilson, associated with Film4 and known for “Under the Skin” and “You Were Never Really Here,” added further weight with his track record in auteur-driven cinema.
British-Jewish filmmaker Jonathan Glazer, whose 2024 Oscar-winning “The Zone of Interest” examined the domestic life of an Auschwitz commandant. Glazer gained global attention when, during his Academy Awards speech, he said he refused to let his “Jewishness and the Holocaust be hijacked” to justify the loss of innocent lives in Gaza.
British producer and philanthropist Jemima Khan also joined, contributing media influence and a longstanding engagement with humanitarian causes.
Their participation expanded the film’s distribution prospects and visibility, but the attention came with backlash.
After the Venice premiere, director Kaouther Ben Hania said mailboxes belonging to producers, including Pitt and Phoenix, received “thousands and thousands” of intimidating messages in a single night, AFP reported.
Story, structure, and reception
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” recounts the final minutes of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli fire while trapped in a car with her family. AFP reported that the film blends real audio from the Red Crescent’s attempted rescue with dramatic reenactments, portraying dispatchers struggling as Israeli tanks approached.
The film received 23 minutes of applause at Venice and multiple standing ovations at Toronto.
In Toronto, Ben Hania appealed for help evacuating Hind Rajab’s surviving family members from Gaza, AFP reported.
Why this film matters
The film highlights civilian suffering during the Gaza war and has become a rare convergence of Arab cinema, Hollywood advocacy, and international human rights discourse. Its recognition at major Western festivals signals a shift in how stories from Gaza enter mainstream global cinema.
As awards season continues, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” is no longer only the story of one child but has become a global debate on accountability, backed by influential voices.
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