On Wednesday evening, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania garnered significant Hollywood endorsement at the star-studded world premiere of her poignant Gaza-based drama, The Voice of Hind Rajab, held on the storied Venice red carpet. The event saw esteemed attendees such as Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara lending their support to the film, which is swiftly becoming a standout title in the fall festival circuit's buzzworthy lineup.
The typical exuberance of Venice's red carpet was tempered for this powerful premiere. Ben Hania, her entirely Palestinian cast, Phoenix, and Mara donned black attire and bore framed portraits of six-year-old Hind Rajab, the film's inspiration and a tragic victim of the Gaza conflict. Instead of the usual lively house music, a haunting ambient score echoed through the air as festival director Alberto Barbera escorted Ben Hania into the Sala Grande Cinema, arm in arm.
A blend of documentary and drama, The Voice of Hind Rajab revolves around the genuine emergency calls made by six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was trapped inside a vehicle in Gaza on January 29, 2024, after her family perished in Israeli tank fire. For over an hour, Hind desperately pleaded for rescue as the Palestine Red Crescent Society stayed on the line. An ambulance dispatched to save her was subsequently destroyed, claiming the lives of its medics. Hind's voice, authenticated by outlets like The Washington Post and Sky News, emerged as one of the most haunting symbols of the war. Unable to film in Gaza, two-time Oscar nominee Ben Hania recreated the Red Crescent call center, casting Palestinian actors as responders while utilizing Hind's authentic recorded voice as the film's emotional core.
As the Venice festival commenced last week, The Voice of Hind Rajab received a significant boost with the announcement that Hollywood heavyweights such as Brad Pitt, Phoenix, Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer had signed on as executive producers. Pitt's Plan B partners, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, also joined the ranks. Their involvement is poised to propel the film, particularly in the United States, where their backing could ensure a broader reach for the documentary.
Earlier in the day at a Venice press conference, Ben Hania expressed her astonishment and gratitude for the endorsement of such prominent figures in the film industry. "I never imagined such support was possible," she remarked, adding, "But I am deeply grateful for their backing." She further emphasized, "The fact that these esteemed names have joined the film signifies something profound. We've witnessed a narrative shift globally. This underscores the importance of cinema, art, and all forms of expression in giving these people a voice and a face."
During the press conference, Saja Kilani, a Palestinian-Canadian actress and one of the film's stars, read a prepared statement on behalf of the entire production team. "Enough of the mass killings, starvation, dehumanization, destruction, and ongoing occupation," she declared. "Hind's voice is but one among tens of thousands of children who have perished in Gaza in the past two years alone."
The winners of the 2025 Venice Film Festival will be revealed at a grand ceremony on Saturday, September 6.
