Docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania has been nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars. This isn’t the first for the Tunisian filmmaker, as her previous film, The Man Who Sold His Skin, and documentary, Four Daughters, both received nominations previously. However, this nomination comes during important times as it brings mainstream attention to the plight in Gaza, forcing those previously ignoring it to pay heed.
The film follows the harrowing story of the Red Crescent’s response to the killing of Hind Rajab by the Israel Defense Forces during its invasion of the Gaza Strip. The five-year-old Palestinian girl was trapped in a car when she made the emergency call, asking for rescue. Based on true events, the film also features the real-life voice recordings of the conversation Hind had in her final moments.
The announcement behind the nomination came from the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Instagram. The foundation supported the film through its Red Sea Fund, while Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara backed the film along with Oscar-winning directors Jonathan Glazer and Alfonso Cuaron.
Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2025, the film went on to win the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize and received a record 23-minute, 50-second standing ovation. It received its UAE public premiere on December 18 while the cast and crew held an exclusive Q&A on December 17.
Inspired to preserve Hind’s memory, the film has been widely acclaimed for its ethical approach to portraying the tragedy. Kaouther Ben Hania further describes the project as a way to give a voice to the people of Gaza, humanitarian workers, and first responders working in the strip. This nomination sparks a defining moment in MENA cinema as it is further platformed on the international stage. And it has been done without glamour or spectacle at the forefront, but by voicing the real stories of real people.
