Tunisia’s 2026 Oscars submission for Best International Feature is already generating major buzz. Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania (Four Daughters, The Man Who Sold His Skin), The Voice of Hind Rajab premiered at the Venice Film Festival, earning a 22-minute standing ovation — a festival record — and quickly emerging as one of the season’s most talked-about contenders.
This marks Ben Hania’s return to the awards race following her 2024 Oscar nomination for Four Daughters in Best Documentary Feature. Tunisia previously made history when her 2020 film The Man Who Sold His Skin became the country’s first-ever nominee for Best International Feature.
The film also arrives with significant Hollywood support. Executive producers include Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Glazer, and Pitt’s Plan B partners Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. Phoenix and Mara attended the Venice premiere alongside one of the film’s stars, Motaz Malhees, who was carrying a portrait of Hind Rajab, the 6-year-old at the heart of the story.
(L to R): Joaquin Phoenix, James Wilson, Rooney Mara, Andrea Romeio, Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury, Nadim Cheikhrouha, Kaouther Ben Hania, Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, and Odessa Rae attend the The Voice of Hind Rajab red carpet during the 82nd Venice International Film FestivalPascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
A portrait of Hind Rajab held by Motaz Malhees during the The Voice o Hind Rajab red carpet premiereMassimo Rosi/Getty Images
What’s is about?
The Voice of Hind Rajab is a drama based on the real-life tragedy of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed during the war in Gaza. In January 2024, while fleeing Gaza City with her family, Hind’s car was shelled, leaving her stranded.
The film incorporates Hind’s actual recorded voice from her emergency call with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, capturing her pleas for help as paramedics attempted to rescue her. When responders finally reached the site, both Hind and the medics were found dead. Unable to film in Gaza, Ben Hania reconstructed the Red Crescent call center and cast Palestinian actors to portray the responders, with Hind’s verified audio forming the emotional core of the film.
Who’s behind the camera
Oscar nominee Kaouther Ben Hania wrote and directed the film with cinematography by Juan Sarmiento G. (A Poet, Islands) and music from Amine Bouhafa (Gagarine, Timbuktu). The film is produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha, Odessa Rae, and James Wilson. Executive producers include Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Glazer, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner.
Will it be released in the U.S.?
An official release date has not been announced, though a late 2025 rollout is expected to position the film for maximum visibility ahead of the 2026 Oscars. Following its Sept. 3 premiere in Venice, the film will make its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 7.
Currently, there is no U.S. distribution deal in place. The film’s subject matter could make it a challenging sell for distributors. Last year’s Best Documentary Feature winner, No Other Land — which chronicled the destruction of the occupied West Bank’s Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers — struggled to secure U.S. distribution and ultimately launched its own theatrical release. While The Voice of Hind Rajab could face similar hurdles, the involvement of its high-profile executive producers significantly increases the likelihood that a stateside deal will be secured.
Who’s in the cast?
The film features an all-Palestinian cast, including Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury, and Amer Hlehel. At the Venice press conference, Kilani read a statement on behalf of the filmmaking team, saying: “Hind’s story carries the weight of an entire people … Her voice is one amongst thousands of children who lost their lives in Gaza. Beyond every number is a story that never got to be told.”
Oscar chances
With its Venice acclaim, emotionally charged subject matter, and the backing of industry heavyweights, The Voice of Hind Rajab has already emerged as a top contender for Best International Feature. Ben Hania’s rising profile — bolstered by Oscar recognition for both Four Daughters and The Man Who Sold His Skin — further strengthens the film’s campaign.
With the Academy’s increasingly international membership, the film could even cross over into other major categories, including Best Director and Best Picture. It currently holds a perfect 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is nominated for the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion, an honor that helped propel past Oscar favorites like Poor Things and Nomadland into the awards spotlight.