The Voice of Hind Rajab made an immediate impact when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2025, receiving a 23-minute standing ovation and seven awards. Nominated for a 2026 Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category, this is her third shortlisting at the awards. So, what makes The Voice of Hind Rajab so powerful? We asked a leading scholar of north African film and film-makers, Florence Martin, to tell us about the film and its director. In a total reversal of classic cinema codes, the star of the film remains a dead little girl’s voice, deprived of a body.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 12, 2026 15:18 UTC