On January 22, 2026, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially nominated The Voice of Hind Rajab for Best International Feature Film.
The 98th edition of the Oscars will take place on March 15 at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood. A total of 24 categories will be recognised at the 98th Academy Awards, each featuring five nominees with the exception of Best Picture, which maintains a field of 10. While nominations for the top prize are determined by eligible members across all 19 Academy branches, the entire voting process remains strictly confidential via secret online ballots, with results tabulated by the independent firm PricewaterhouseCoopers
The Story: A Global Cinematic Milestone
Directed by the acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania and supported by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund, the nomination of 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' marks a watershed moment for Arab cinema. The film serves as a poignant reconstruction of the final moments of Hind Rajab Hamada, a six-year-old Palestinian girl whose tragic death in Gaza City in early 2024 sparked international outcry.
The nomination reflects a significant victory for the Red Sea Film Foundation, which has championed the project since its inception. By securing this nod, Ben Hania — who previously garnered Oscar attention for The Man Who Sold His Skin and Four Daughters — solidifies her position as one of the most vital voices in contemporary global cinema.
The film is a meticulously crafted docudrama that centres on the real-life events of January 29, 2024. Hind Rajab was fleeing the Israeli military with six relatives when their vehicle came under fire. As the sole survivor of the initial attack, the young girl spent hours trapped in the car, pleading for rescue via phone calls to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
The heart of the film is built around the actual 70-minute audio recording of those calls. Director Ben Hania made the deliberate choice to keep the physical violence off-screen, focusing instead on the psychological toll of the waiting, the fear, and the desperate efforts of the emergency dispatchers in Ramallah trying to coordinate a safe rescue.
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Global Acclaim and Hollywood Support
Since its world premiere in September 2025 at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' has been a critical juggernaut. It notably received a 23-minute, 50-second standing ovation — shattering the record for the longest applause in film festival history — and was subsequently awarded the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize.
The project’s impact has been further amplified by a prestigious roster of Hollywood executive producers, including:
- Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara
- Oscar-winning directors Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) and Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
A Turning Point for the Region
Following the announcement, the Red Sea Film Foundation shared its pride in the achievement, stating that the nomination reflects the "strength of the creative vision" and the team's commitment to bringing this urgent story to the world stage. As the first Saudi-backed project of this nature to reach the final five in its category, it represents the Kingdom's growing influence as a global hub for sophisticated, high-stakes storytelling.
As the 98th Academy Awards approach this March, The Voice of Hind Rajab stands as more than just a film; it is a global tribute to the civilians caught in conflict and a demand for collective remembrance through the lens of cinema.
In November 2025, The Saudi Film Commission officially selected the feature film 'Hijra' as the Kingdom’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category. Although not selected in the final stages of the competitive race for an Academy Award, this submission is seen as a remarkable opportunity for Saudi film. Directed by acclaimed Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen — who previously represented the country with her debut feature, Scales (2020) — Hijra is described as a poignant road movie and a cinematic meditation on identity and womanhood. After gaining international momentum through its selection for the Spotlight Competition at Venice, Hijra has been hailed for its ambitious scale. The project utilised nine diverse Saudi locations, from Jeddah to Tabuk and AlUla, and was made possible through strategic backing from major industry entities including Film AlUla, NEOM, and the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation.
