Tunisian Film "The Voice of Hind Rajab" Wins Silver Lion at Venice Film Festival
The Tunisian film "The Voice of Hind Rajab" by director Kaouther Ben Hania has been awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the second most prestigious award after the Golden Lion, which was awarded to Jim Jarmusch's film "Father Mother Sister Brother".
A Powerful Message of Solidarity
The awards were presented during the closing ceremony of the 82nd Venice Film Festival, marked by numerous gestures and declarations of solidarity with Gaza. "The Voice of Hind Rajab" made a significant impact at the festival, also winning six major distinctions out of the eight parallel awards presented this year, a rare feat in the history of the Mostra.
The film's first trophy was the Leoncino d'Oro (Golden Lion Cub), awarded by a jury of young viewers, highlighting the film's resonance with new generations. This recognition was followed by the Premio Croce Rossa Italiana (Italian Red Cross Prize), which honors films with a strong humanitarian message. The film also received the Premio Arca Cinema Giovani (Arca Cinema Youth Prize), awarded by a jury of young people, confirming the film's impact on a diverse audience.
A Tribute to Hind Rajab
The documentary tells the tragic story of Hind Rajab, who was killed with several members of her family while trying to escape bombings in Gaza. Before her death, Hind and her cousin had managed to contact emergency services by phone; the recorded call, widely relayed on the internet, caused a global shockwave. A few days later, the family's cars and those of the rescue workers were found riddled with bullets (355 impacts on the family vehicle!).
A Call to Action
In her acceptance speech, Kaouther Ben Hania dedicated her award to the Palestinian Red Crescent. She stated that cinema, although unable to bring back the dead or erase atrocities, can preserve memory and give voice to those who have been silenced. Through Hind's story, she wants to tell the story of an entire people, victims of a genocide perpetrated by an Israeli regime acting with impunity.
She recalled that Hind's mother and brother (whom she named) are in danger in Gaza, like "countless mothers, fathers, and children who wake up every day under the same sky of fear, hunger, and bombings". She urged world leaders to save them, stating that their survival is not a matter of charity, but of justice, humanity, and the minimum that the world owes them.
A Message of Hope
She also conveyed a message from Hind's mother, thanking the film team and expressing hope that the film can contribute to ending the genocide. At the end of her speech, the director quoted Nelson Mandela, who said: "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians", noting that today, his words ring truer than ever. She concluded: "May Hind's soul rest in peace. May the eyes of her killers never sleep. Free Palestine".
It is worth noting that the film has been chosen to represent Tunisia at the Oscars 2026. The feature film is set to be released on September 17 in Tunisia, but no release date has been announced in Europe or the United States, where it still lacks a distributor.
