Kaouther Ben Hania releases film based on Hind Rajab’s emergency calls

Director Kaouther Ben Hania has released ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, a docufiction film based on the real-life emergency calls of a six-year-old Palestinian girl. On January 29, 2024, Hind Rajab became the sole survivor of a vehicle carrying seven civilians that was fired upon by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. The film utilizes actual call recordings between Hind and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, where she pleaded for help while trapped in a car surrounded by the bodies of her relatives.

Ben Hania, a Tunisian filmmaker, decided to produce the film immediately to ensure accountability and to serve as a witness to the events in Gaza. The project received significant international acclaim, including eight awards at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, such as the Silver Lion, and an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film. The production was supported by high-profile producers including Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix.

In interviews, Ben Hania noted that she sought permission from Hind’s mother before proceeding, emphasizing the film's goal to prevent the story from being lost to history and to act as a tool for justice.