The film is produced by Kaouther Ben Hania’s longtime collaborator Nadim Cheikhrouha through his companies Mime Films and Tanit Films.
Venice’s Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize winner The Voice of Hind Rajab, a docudrama by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, will be the opening film of the Doha Film Festival, running from November 20 to 28, marking its Arab World premiere.
The film, based on the true story of six-year-old Hind Rajab whose tragic death in Gaza drew global attention, recounts her final moments through real recordings of her desperate phone call to the Red Crescent as she was trapped under Israeli fire on January 29, 2024. The production, a collaboration between Tunisia and France, features Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees and Saja Kilani, and was filmed in Tunisia.
Following its thunderous world premiere at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, where it received a historic 20-minute standing ovation, the film quickly became one of the most talked-about titles of the year. It also won multiple Venice honors, including the UNICEF Award, Edipo Re Award, Arca Cinema Giovani Award and the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Award. Critics hailed it as a landmark work of political cinema, with Nicholas Barber of the BBC awarding it a near-perfect score and calling it the year’s most impactful film, while Kevin Maher of The Times described it as essential viewing for politicians and policymakers.
Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, and Alfonso Cuarón are among the executive producers, alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B, Film4, and MBC Studios. Other prominent backers include Jemima Khan, Frank Giustra, and Sabine Getty. Produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha, Odessa Rae, and James Wilson, the film was made in collaboration with the Palestinian Red Crescent.
For its global rollout, Paris-based The Party Film Sales is managing international distribution and co-representing North American rights with CAA Media Finance, while MAD Distribution is handling Arab World rights. The film has already been selected for major international festivals including Toronto, Chicago, San Sebastián, and BFI London.
Ben Hania, one of the Arab world’s most celebrated filmmakers, has built a reputation for bold and innovative storytelling. Her past works include Four Daughters, which won the L’Œil d’Or at Cannes in 2023 and earned an Academy Award nomination in 2024, and The Man Who Sold His Skin, a 2020 Oscar nominee that also won Best Actor at Venice. Earlier films such as Beauty and the Dogs, Zaineb Hates the Snow, and Challat of Tunis further cemented her place as a leading voice in world cinema.
