Tunisia Chooses “The Voice of Hind Rajab” for the Oscars
Tunisia has nominated Kaouther Ben Hania’s film set in Gaza, The Voice of Hind Rajab, for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
This film dramatizes the tragic events that led to the death of a six-year-old girl named Hind Rajab, her four cousins, her aunt and uncle, and two paramedics who were attempting to save them. This group was fatally shot in their vehicle while trying to escape Gaza City in January 2024.
The incident occurred during the third month of the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which was initiated following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. The conflict has claimed the lives of over 61,000 residents of the Palestinian area.
The selection of this film as Tunisia’s Oscar entry was determined by a committee of cinema and television experts, operating under the guidance of the Tunisian National Center for Cinema and Image.
The film is set to have its global debut at the Venice Film Festival next week. The announcement was made just one day after it was disclosed that several prominent figures in Hollywood, such as Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuaron, and Jonathan Glazer, are supporting the film.
Kaouther Ben Hania, the film’s director, is celebrated internationally as one of Tunisia’s leading filmmakers. Her previous work, Four Daughters, was a contender for Best Documentary at the 2024 Academy Awards and received the Golden Eye award at the Cannes Film Festival where it competed.
Ben Hania’s earlier film, The Man Who Sold His Skin, represented Tunisia in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2021 Academy Awards.
The production of The Voice of Hind Rajab is primarily managed by Ben Hania’s regular collaborator Nadim Cheikhrouha under his production companies, Mime Films and Tanit Films. The film also includes contributions from producers Odessa Rae of New York-based RaeFilm Studios and James Wilson of London-based Jw Films Production.
The international distribution of the film is handled by Paris-based The Party Film Sales, with several significant distributors already involved. In North America, the film’s distribution rights are represented by CAA Media Finance.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
