Kaouther Ben Hania’s Gaza-set drama, The Voice of Hind Rajab, became the most celebrated film at this year’s Venice Film Festival, receiving a 23-minute and 50-second standing ovation after its world premiere — a potential record in film festival history.
A Historic Reception in Venice
The film, which reconstructs the tragic killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab, her relatives, and two paramedics in Gaza City in January 2024, struck an immediate emotional chord with audiences. The massacre occurred during Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, launched after the October 7, 2023 attacks, which have resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths.
The previous record for applause at Venice was thought to be Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door at 18 minutes, while Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth held the Cannes benchmark at 22 minutes. The Voice of Hind Rajab has now surpassed both.
Hollywood Support and Global Impact
Last week, Hollywood heavyweights including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer joined the project as executive producers. Phoenix and Mara even attended the Venice photo call. The film has also been selected as Tunisia’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards.
At a Venice press conference, the cast received another standing ovation before actress Saja Kilani delivered a passionate statement:
“Enough of the mass killing, the starvation, the dehumanization, the destruction, and the ongoing occupation… Hind’s story carries the weight of an entire people.”
Critical Acclaim
In his review for Deadline, critic Damon Wise called the film “extraordinary,” describing it as “an urgent procedural that could be the lightning rod supporters of the Gazan cause are waiting for.” He emphasized that the film focuses not on the logistics of what happened but on the “why” — making it both politically urgent and artistically powerful.
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Ben Hania’s Rising Legacy
Director Kaouther Ben Hania has cemented herself as one of Tunisia’s most acclaimed filmmakers. Her documentary Four Daughters was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Oscars after premiering at Cannes. Her earlier film, The Man Who Sold His Skin, also earned an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature in 2021.
Produced under Mime Films and Tanit Films, with Odessa Rae (RaeFilm Studios) and James Wilson (JW Films Production), The Voice of Hind Rajab has already secured strong international distribution support, with The Party Film Sales managing global rights and CAA Media Finance handling North America.
Final Verdict
With its record-breaking ovation, critical praise, and global political resonance, The Voice of Hind Rajab is not only a landmark of the Venice Film Festival 2025, but also a film likely to define the awards season and amplify the global conversation around Gaza and Palestine.
