By Haifa Chairunisa
The documentary The Voice of Hind Rajab has emerged as one of the most harrowing films on this year’s Oscars shortlist, earning a nomination for Best International Feature Film. The film centers on the final recorded moments of Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child who died after being shot by Israeli forces.
Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, the documentary reconstructs Hind’s last hours, including an audio recording of her phone call with Red Crescent officers who were trying to reach her. The film avoids narration or dramatization, allowing the recorded voices to stand on their own and compelling viewers to confront the events as they unfolded.
In an interview with Collider on Sunday (January 25, 2026), Ben Hania said the Oscar nomination was not about personal recognition but about amplifying Hind’s voice. She described the honor as meaningful because it ensured that Academy members and a wider global audience listened to Hind’s story, challenging the notion of cinema as mere entertainment or escape.
The nomination marks Ben Hania’s third Academy Award recognition, following The Man Who Sold His Skin and Four Daughters. Despite this milestone, she stressed that the film’s focus remains firmly on the victims rather than the filmmaker.
Ben Hania said she received a message from Hind’s mother, Wissam Rajab, after the nomination was announced, expressing gratitude and hope that the film would allow more people to hear her daughter’s voice. She added that Hind’s recorded story represents countless other children whose final moments were never documented.
According to Ben Hania, the documentary also underscores the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where many children remain in situations similar to the one Hind faced when she sought help. She said the film aims to encourage accountability for alleged war crimes and to challenge a global order shaped by military power.
Ben Hania also drew attention to the growing number of orphans, children with amputations, and others in urgent need of care. She noted that the film’s team has signed an open letter calling for the opening of humanitarian corridors to assist affected children.
Describing the documentary as a call to action, Ben Hania said the film was intended to prompt reflection and response rather than momentary sympathy. In addition to Hind’s story, the film highlights the efforts of Red Crescent workers involved in the rescue attempt, with Ben Hania expressing hope that the Oscar recognition will bring greater awareness to the risks faced by humanitarian personnel.
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