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The Voice of Hind Rajab has been nominated for an Oscar for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, marking a powerful moment for human storytelling.
The film, directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, was nominated for the Tunisian entry for the Best International Feature category.
Starring Palestinian actors Saja Kilani and Motaz Malhees, the movie portrays the harrowing events surrounding the killing of five-year-old Palestinian child Hind Rajab in Gaza.
In January 2024, Hind and her family members were attempting to flee Gaza City, following the onslaught of terror and siege by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip. The car Hind and her family were travelling in came under heavy shelling, which killed her aunt, uncle and her three cousins.
Hind remained trapped inside the vehicle for hours while on the phone with the Palestinian Red Cross Society as paramedics attempted to reach the stranded little girl. However, by the time the rescuers arrived, Hind and the medics were found dead. It was later reported that media investigations found that an Israeli tank had fired more than 300 rounds into the vehicle.
In the film, the audio of Hind’s voice is used from her final call. “Please come to me, please come. I’m scared,” the little girl is heard saying on the audio, with the sounds of bullets being fired in the background.
The Oscar nomination comes after The Voice of Hind Rajab premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, where the film broke records.
Receiving a standing ovation of over 23 minutes, it was labelled as the “biggest response” to a film at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
After the record-breaking standing ovation, the Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix-backed movie won the Silver Lion Award at the film festival.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, 2026.
