Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, based on a true story from Gaza that shocked the world, Arab World premiered to warm acclaim at the Doha Film Festival (November 20th-28th) in the presence of its cast and crew, including the director; producer Nadim Cheikhrouha; cast members Amer Hlehel, Motaz Malhees, and Saja Kilani; alongside Hind Rajab's mother Wessam Hamada.
 
In a speech after the screening, Ben Hania thanked the Doha Film Institute and said, “When I heard Hind’s voice a year ago and started thinking about creating a work, I reached out to Wissam because it was important to speak with her. I also contacted the Red Crescent — the real heroes who did everything they could to save Hind, and who are with us here today in the hall. It was a huge responsibility, and I was afraid to make a film like this in such a difficult time. I want to thank the Doha Film Institute because they were among the first to believe in the project.” She added, “Today, for the first time, Doha has brought together everyone connected to the film.”
 
In her remarks, Hamada thanked Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad, the Qatar Film Festival, the film’s team, and Kaouther for her care in reaching out to her as a mother, to share her pain and her daughter’s voice, something that brings her comfort.
 
She added, “My message today is not just words — it is the pain of a mother who lost her daughter and then found, in the world’s love for her, a message from God. I realized that my role is to carry the voices of the children of Gaza to the world; children living at the heart of war, in darkness, deprived of their most basic rights, their dreams stolen before they even grow… But I have not lost my humanity or my purpose. That is why I stand before you today: To be their voice, to tell the world to save Gaza’s childhood before its last light goes out.”
 
With Hollywood staples 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 festival’s Silver Lion, the UNICEF, Edipo Re, Arca Cinema Giovani, and the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Awards respectively.
 
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 a 20-minute standing ovation marking 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; along with the Ghent International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, and the La Roche-sur-Yon International 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.