Grim Gaza survivor tale 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' gets nominated for Oscar in Best International Feature category

Dubai: Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab has been nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars, the Red Sea Film Foundation announced on Instagram.

The film, supported by Red Sea's fund and backed by Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix a, tells the harrowing story of Hind Rajab Hamada, who was fleeing the Israeli military in Gaza City with six relatives when their car came under fire last year.

The sole survivor was later killed, and her desperate calls to the Red Crescent sparked global outrage.

The project attracted big names behind the scenes, with actors Joaquin Phoenix and Brad Pitt among its executive producers, alongside Oscar-winning directors Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) and Alfonso Cuarón (Roma).

The Red Sea Film Foundation said in its statement:
"We’re proud to announce that Kaouther Ben Hania’s ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab,’ supported by the Red Sea Fund, has been nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars. The nomination reflects the strength of the creative vision behind the film and the commitment of the team who brought it to life."

The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2025 and became an instant sensation, receiving a record-breaking 23-minute standing ovation. It later won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, the festival’s second-highest honor.

With its Oscar nod, The Voice of Hind Rajab joins the ranks of the year’s most celebrated international films, shining a global spotlight on a story that has resonated worldwide. India's Homebound did not make the cut.