Few stories from Gaza have cut through like the one of Hind Rajab—a six-year-old girl trapped in a car under fire, her terrified phone calls broadcast to the world. The Voice of Hind Rajab, a hybrid documentary directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, weaves those real audio recordings into a film that has already won the Grand Jury Prize at Venice and earned an Academy Award nomination.

Release Year: 2025 ·
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania ·
Subject: Hind Rajab, 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza ·
Academy Award Status: Nominated for Best International Feature

Quick snapshot

1Film Details
2Subject Matter
  • Based on the true story of Hind Rajab, killed on January 29, 2024 (RogerEbert.com)
  • Reconstructs real emergency calls to the Palestine Red Crescent (BFI Player)
  • Rescue volunteers also killed during the attempt (Al Jazeera)
3Availability
  • BFI Player (subscription, UK only) (BFI Player)
  • World premiere at Venice Film Festival on Sept 3, 2025 (Deadline)
  • Also screened at TIFF 2025 (RogerEbert.com)
4Awards
  • Grand Jury Prize, Venice Film Festival 2025 (RogerEbert.com)
  • Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature (Al Jazeera)

Six key facts at a glance: one film, one tragedy, and a surprising range of production details.

Attribute Value
Film Length 1 hour 29 minutes (BFI Player)
Subject Age at Death 5–6 years old (RogerEbert.com)
Country of Production Tunisia (BFI Player)
Director Nationality Tunisian (Wikipedia)
Oscar Category Best International Feature (Al Jazeera)
Year of Oscar Nomination 2026 (Al Jazeera)

What country is The Voice of Hind Rajab from?

Production country

  • The film is a Tunisian production directed by Kaouther Ben Hania (BFI Player).

Primary language

  • The documentary is in English and Arabic (BFI Player).

The implication: The Voice of Hind Rajab is not a Western film—it comes from Tunisia, a North African country with a growing cinema reputation, and it leans on both English and Arabic to reach a global audience.

What is the story of Hind Rajab?

Who was Hind Rajab

  • Hind Rajab was a five- or six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza during Israeli military operations on January 29, 2024 (RogerEbert.com).

The emergency call

  • While trapped in a car under fire, Hind and her cousin made real emergency calls to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (BFI Player).

The Red Crescent response

  • Red Crescent volunteers attempted to rescue her but were also killed (Al Jazeera).

Outcome of the incident

  • The incident ended with no survivors; the audio recordings became the backbone of the film (RogerEbert.com).

What this means: The documentary does not invent drama—it uses surviving audio from a child and her helpers, making the horror impossible to look away from.

Who is behind The Voice of Hind Rajab?

Director Kaouther Ben Hania

  • Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, a Tunisian filmmaker already Oscar-nominated before this project (BFI Player).

Executive producers

  • Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Jonathan Glazer, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jemima Khan are listed as executive producers (Mark Kermode review, YouTube).

Production companies

  • Produced by Scallywag Films (UK) in co-production with other partners (Deadline).

The pattern: A-list Hollywood names attached as executive producers gave the film a visibility boost that most documentary shorts never receive.

Where can I watch The Voice of Hind Rajab?

Streaming on BFI Player

  • Available to stream in the UK only via BFI Player subscription (BFI Player).

Festival screenings

  • Premiered at Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2025 (Deadline).
  • Screened at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025 (RogerEbert.com).

Digital rental/purchase

  • Not yet confirmed for platforms like Apple TV or Netflix beyond BFI Player (BFI Player).

The trade-off: For viewers outside the UK, the only legal way to see the film currently is at a festival or wait for a wider digital release.

Is The Voice of Hind Rajab available to stream for free?

Free trial options

  • BFI Player offers a free trial period; viewers in the UK can watch it during that trial (BFI Player).

Library streaming

  • No library editions or ad-supported free streams are available as of early 2026 (Al Jazeera).

Legitimate free access

  • No free permanent streaming options exist; only festival screenings and subscription-based viewing (BBC Culture).

The catch: If you are in the UK, a BFI Player trial is your only no-cost window. Outside the UK, you may need to wait for a broader digital release or a television broadcast.

Timeline signal

  • January 29, 2024 – Hind Rajab killed in Gaza along with family members in a car under Israeli fire (RogerEbert.com).
  • January 2024 – Real emergency calls made to Palestine Red Crescent by Hind and later by her cousin (BFI Player).
  • 2024 – Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania begins production using emergency call audio (BBC Culture).
  • September 3, 2025 – World premiere at Venice Film Festival, receives 23-minute standing ovation (34th Street Magazine).
  • 2025 – Wins Grand Jury Prize at Venice (RogerEbert.com).
  • January 23, 2026 – Oscar nomination for Best International Feature announced (Al Jazeera).
Kaouther Ben Hania’s film turned a child’s final moments into an Oscar-nominated document of war accountability. The Academy nomination means broader streaming access may follow.

What’s next

The film is now an Oscar contender. If it wins, expect a rapid expansion to streaming platforms in Europe and North America. For viewers in Ireland and other English-speaking markets, festival screenings and BFI Player remain the only options—for now.

Confirmed facts

  • Hind Rajab was killed on January 29, 2024 in Gaza (RogerEbert.com).
  • The film is directed by Kaouther Ben Hania (BFI Player).
  • Brad Pitt is an executive producer (Mark Kermode review).
  • The film received an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature (Al Jazeera).
  • Available on BFI Player in the UK (BFI Player).

What’s unclear

  • Exact list of all executive producers beyond Brad Pitt and those named in reviews.
  • Whether the film will be added to additional streaming platforms (Netflix, Hulu) in the future.
  • Official runtime in all versions (BFI lists 1h29m, Deadline notes 1h39m in Venice context).

Quotes on the film

“Fierce, vehement and heart-shattering.”

The Guardian (film review)

“A strong contender for Venice’s Golden Lion and almost guaranteed an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature.”

BBC Culture

“Powerful hybrid documentary.”

Deadline

“A film that uses raw tragedy to demand accountability.”

Al Jazeera

Frequently asked questions

Is The Voice of Hind Rajab suitable for children?

The film depicts the real death of a child and includes distressing audio. It is not recommended for young viewers.

How is the documentary funded?

It was co-produced by Scallywag Films and supported by executive producers including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and others.

What emergency calls are featured in the film?

The film uses real audio of Hind Rajab and her cousin calling the Palestine Red Crescent after being trapped in a car under fire.

How long is The Voice of Hind Rajab?

BFI Player lists a runtime of 1 hour 29 minutes; some festival reports mention 1 hour 39 minutes.

Who narrated the documentary?

The film blends documentary and fiction; there is no single narrator. Characters are voiced by actors reenacting the calls.

Is there a trailer available?

A trailer has been shown at festivals. BFI Player may feature a preview clip.

For viewers in the UK, the choice is clear: use a BFI Player trial to watch the film now, or wait for a potential wider release if the Oscar win expands distributor interest.