Search
Close this search box.

Venice: Kaouther Ben Hania’s powerful Gaza docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, the second-highest honour, at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. The Tunisian director’s latest film recounts the events of January 29, 2024, when the five-year-old Hind Rajab was the sole survivor in a car hit by Israeli forces while trying to escape with her family in Gaza.

According to TRTworld.com, during the attack, Hind made a phone call to Red Crescent volunteers pleading for help. Volunteers attempted to maintain contact and summon an ambulance, but both the vehicle and the girl were struck before help could arrive. The director stressed that this is not just Hind's story but also the story of the Israeli regime's actions.

The film underscores the urgency faced by Hind's family and countless others in Gaza who endure danger, fear, and hunger under daily bombardment. The director urged world leaders to take action. She concluded her remarks with hopes for Hind's peace, a call for accountability, and a plea for a free Palestine.

The film's premiere received a rapturous response, including a standing ovation lasting more than 22 minutes. In other festival highlights, the Golden Lion for best film was awarded to Jim Jarmusch's Father Mother Sister Brother, while Benny Safdie received the Silver Lion for best director with The Smashing Machine.