Hulu Acquires Streaming Rights for Oscar-Nominated ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’; Set to Premiere Shortly
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, the streaming platform Hulu has acquired the U.S. digital distribution rights for the Oscar-nominated film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. The work is based on the true story of a young Palestinian girl who perished during Israeli military operations in Gaza.
According to the official announcement, the film will be released for streaming on Hulu this Friday, April 10.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” chronicles the final hours of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was trapped in a vehicle under fire, surrounded by the bodies of her deceased family members. The film incorporates actual audio recordings of Hind’s voice as she contacted Red Crescent emergency dispatchers pleading for help.
Despite rescue efforts to reach the site in Gaza City, the ambulance dispatched to save her was also targeted, resulting in the deaths of the paramedics.
The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival to widespread acclaim, receiving a 23-minute standing ovation—one of the longest in the festival’s history. This project marks the third Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film for Kaouther Ben Hania, following Four Daughters (2024) and The Man Who Sold His Skin (2021).
Filmed in the director’s native Tunisia, the cast includes Moatz Malhees, Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury, and Saja Kilani.
The film is produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha, Odessa Rae, and James Wilson. An impressive roster of executive producers includes Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, Michael Moore, and Spike Lee.
The project was produced in collaboration with companies such as Plan B Entertainment, Film4, MBC Studios, and Watermelon Pictures, with the participation of the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the family of Hind Rajab.
Regarding her motivation for the film, Kaouther Ben Hania stated:
“I made this film to keep Hind’s voice alive; a voice that was lost amidst the overwhelming content of social media and needed to be remembered.”
She further emphasized that her goal went beyond merely narrating an event:
“Cinema can do something more; it can create emotion, place the audience in the character’s shoes, and bring them closer to experiencing their life. This is what makes cinema such a powerful tool for human empathy.”
WILLA, the company that acquired the film following its Venice screening, focuses on the production and distribution of works with cultural and social themes. Additionally, Chicago-based Watermelon Pictures aims to amplify the voices of underrepresented filmmakers globally, participating in projects with significant social and humanitarian themes.
