Venice’s Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize Winner, Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, based on the real Palestinian story that shocked the world, will be the opening film of the inaugural edition of the Doha Film Festival (November 20th-28th), marking its Arab World premiere.
 
With Hollywood giants like Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, and Alfonso Cuarón serving as executive producers, this Tunisian-French production was selected as Tunisia’s official submission to the 98th Academy Awards. The film has already claimed several additional awards at Venice, including the UNICEF Award, Edipo Re Award, Arca Cinema Giovani Award, and the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Award.
 
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB is a harrowing docudrama based on the true story of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. On January 29th, 2024, Red Crescent volunteers received an emergency call from a six-year-old girl trapped in a car under fire, pleading for rescue. The film uses real-life voice recordings between Hind and the Red Crescent correspondents who attempted to save her.
 
Recently, the film had a thunderous world premiere at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, receiving 20-minute standing ovation—the longest in the festival’s history. It quickly became the talk of the world, garnering attention from regional and international press and receiving high ratings on film websites, including an overall rating of 85 on Metacritic with 100% positive reviews from over ten major media outlets.
 
Among the highly positive reviews was one by Nicholas Barber of the BBC, who rated the film a near-perfect 100, stating, “No other film this year will get more people talking or more people crying.” Kevin Maher of The Times also rated it 100, urging politicians and decision-makers to see it. Additionally, The Playlist’s Marshal Shaffer rated the film 91, writing, “Take out a thesaurus for any overused critical buzzword about political cinema – timely, urgent, necessary—and they all fail to capture the shattering impact of Kaouther Ben Hania’s THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB.”
Following its premiere, the film has been selected for screening at prestigious festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, San Sebastián International Film Festival, and BFI London Film Festival.
 
Alongside the above famed executive producers are Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner,through their company Plan B, also received “In Association With” credits, as did Film4 and MBC Studios. Other prominent public figures who joined the project as executive producers include journalist and producer Jemima Khan, Canadian businessman and Lionsgate founder Frank Giustra, and jewelry designer and social figure Sabine Getty.
 
Starring Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees, and Saja Kilani filmed in Tunisia, it is being handled for worldwide sales by Paris-based The Party Film Sales, which is co-representing the North American rights with CAA Media Finance. Meanwhile, MAD Distribution is handling theatrical and cultural rights in the Arab World.
 
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB brings together Mime Films (Tunisia), Tanit Films (France), is produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha as well as Odessa Rae and James Wilson, and is made in collaboration with the Palestinian Red Crescent.
 
Kaouther Ben Hania is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the Arab World, known for her bold storytelling and cinematic innovation. Her 2023 film FOUR DAUGHTERS won the l’Oeil d’Or at Cannes and was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2024 Academy Awards. Her 2020 feature, THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN, was nominated for Best International Feature and won Best Actor at Venice’s Horizons Section.
 
Earlier works like BEAUTY AND THE DOGS, ZAINEB HATES THE SNOW, and CHALLAT OF TUNIS have also earned international acclaim.