‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ wins Silver Lion at Venice Film Festival
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The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film portraying the killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab by Israeli forces in Gaza that offers a searing account of the war's impact on Palestinian civilians, won its second award in Venice
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Jury members Cristian Mungiu, from left, Fernanda Torres, Zhao Tao and Maura Delpero listen as director Kaouther Ben Hania, right, addresses the audience after winning the grand jury prize for 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' during the awards ceremony of the 82nd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)
The Voice of Hind Rajab, a powerful Gaza war film by French-Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, has been awarded the Silver Lion grand jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The film, based on a real event that gripped global attention, portrays the final moments of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza as her family attempted to evacuate during the ongoing war.
The emotionally devastating film tells the story of Hind Rajab, who was trapped in a car with family members for hours in Gaza City.
Despite pleading phone calls made by relatives and the Red Crescent, no help arrived. Her final moments, including her last call for help, were widely reported and became symbolic of the toll the war has taken on Palestinian children.
Kaouther Ben Hania’s retelling of the tragedy mixes documentary realism with narrative filmmaking to depict the horrors endured by civilians under "Israel’s" continued genocide.
Read more: Gaza film at Venice faces hate campaign after record standing ovation
Emotional reception and global recognition
The film’s premiere left audiences in tears, drawing standing ovations and immediate international attention. Critics praised its unflinching portrayal of war crimes and its refusal to sanitize the violence committed against Palestinians.
By awarding The Voice of Hind Rajab the Silver Lion, the Venice jury recognized not only its artistic merit but also its urgency as a political statement on Gaza, where thousands of civilians have been killed under "Israel’s" ongoing aggression.
Art as witness to war crimes in Gaza
Ben Hania, known for weaving real-world injustices into her films, said during the festival that the story of Hind Rajab is one that "the world must not forget."
“This film is not just about one girl, it's about all the children whose voices are silenced in war,” she told reporters.
The award serves as a rare moment of global visibility for Gaza’s suffering, brought to the world stage through cinema.
Read more: Over 20,000 children killed by 'Israel' in Gaza: Save the Children
