Kaouther Ben Hania’s latest film, ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, has garnered significant attention as it secures distribution deals in multiple key territories ahead of its premieres.
Kaouther Ben Hania’s Gaza Drama ‘The Voice Of Hind Rajab’ Sells To Key Territories
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-nominated director Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, which addresses one of the most controversial incidents during Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip, has secured distribution deals in several key territories ahead of its premieres in Venice and Toronto.
Distribution Deals
The Paris-based sales company The Party Film Sales has announced agreements with distributors in Benelux (Cineart), Italy (I Wonder), Spain (La Zona, Caramel), Japan (New Select), Poland (New Horizons in association with Gutek), Portugal (Nitrato), Thailand (Sahamongkol), Turkey (Bir Film), the Baltic States (Kino Pavasaris), Ex-Yugoslavia (Kino Mediteran), Greece (Cinobo), and Hong Kong (Golden Scene).
The Party Film Sales’ sister company, Jour2Fête, which has previously distributed three of Ben Hania’s films, holds the French rights.
CAA Media Finance represents the film for the North American market.
Film Premiere and Synopsis
The feature will have its world premiere in Competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, followed by its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. The drama reconstructs the tragic events surrounding the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab, her four cousins, her aunt and uncle, and the two paramedics who attempted to rescue them after their vehicle was fired upon while fleeing Gaza City in January 2024.
The killings occurred approximately three months into Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, which was triggered by the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 61,000 deaths in the Palestinian territory.
Despite Israel’s claims of not having troops in the area at the time of the incident, investigations by The Washington Post and Sky News using satellite imagery have confirmed the presence of Israeli tanks.
The film’s official synopsis states: “January 29, 2024. Red Crescent volunteers receive an emergency call. A six-year-old girl is trapped in a car under fire in Gaza, pleading for rescue. While trying to keep her on the line, they do everything they can to get an ambulance to her. Her name was Hind Rajab.”
Company Profile and Future Plans
The Party Film Sales, known for its bold and thought-provoking films, tailors release campaigns to ensure impactful audience reach. Co-heads Samuel Blanc and Estelle de Araujo expressed gratitude for the support from distributors, emphasizing the long journey ahead.
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Ben Hania is one of Tunisia’s most celebrated directors. Her previous film, Four Daughters, was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2024 Academy Awards and won the Golden Eye award at Cannes. Her earlier film, The Man Who Sold His Skin, was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2021 Academy Awards.
The Voice of Hind Rajab is Ben Hania’s fifth film, initiated while she was on the Oscar trail with Four Daughters. She recalls hearing an audio recording of Hind Rajab pleading for help during a layover at LAX, which profoundly impacted her decision to create this film.
Ben Hania engaged with Hind’s mother and those who attempted to help her, weaving their testimonies and the actual audio recording into the film’s narrative. The film was shot in Tunisia, intentionally avoiding graphic violence on-screen.
“What I wanted was to focus on the invisible: the waiting, the fear, the unbearable sound of silence when help doesn’t come,” Ben Hania stated. “At the heart of this film is a universal grief. This story is not just about Gaza; it speaks to a broader human experience.”
The film is produced by Ben Hania’s long-time collaborator Nadim Cheikhrouha under Mime Films and Tanit Films, with additional producers including Odessa Rae and James Wilson. The cast features Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury, and Amer Hlehel.
Director of Photography Juan Sarmiento G., along with editors Qutaiba Barhamji, Maxime Mathis, and Ben Hania, contribute to the film’s production, while the score is composed by Amine Bouhafa.
