Tunisia has selected Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab as its official submission for the Academy Award for best international feature, positioning the Venice competition title for an awards-season run that begins next week. The decision, announced by the country’s selection committee, comes ahead of the film’s world premiere on September 3 and follows mounting attention around the production.
The feature revisits the widely reported January 2024 killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza, drawing on real emergency-call audio and scripted performances to reconstruct the hours after her plea for rescue. Festival notes describe Ben Hania’s approach as interweaving documentary elements with dramatized scenes, led by actors Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury, and Amer Hlehel.
Backed by producers Nadim Cheikhrouha, James Wilson, and Odessa Rae, the film runs 89–90 minutes and is produced by Tanit Films and Mime Films, with international sales handled by The Party Film Sales. The production credits and runtime are reflected across festival and industry listings.
The project has drawn high-profile support, with a roster of executive producers that includes Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer, a factor that has amplified attention ahead of Venice. Ben Hania, previously recognized by the Academy for earlier work, returns to the Lido with another politically charged narrative anchored in a child’s perspective and the testimonies surrounding her final call.
Beyond Venice, the film is slated for a North American festival berth on September 7, extending its rollout on the circuit within days of its premiere. The submission places Tunisia early on the board for the 98th Academy Awards race, with the national committee citing eligibility and timing in line with the category’s rules.
