Gaza film The Voice of Hind Rajab gets record 23-minute ovation at Venice

Gaza film The Voice Of Hind Rajab has received a record 23-minute-plus standing ovation after its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Director Kaouther Ben Hania’s reenactment tells the story of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed along with her three cousins, aunt, uncle and two paramedics who had come to their aid after their car was fired on by Israeli forces in Gaza City in January 2024.

Film festivals are known for their lengthy ovations but this appears to have eclipsed the 22-minute one given to Pan’s Labrynth at Cannes in 2006.

Actor Motaz Malhees waved a Palestinian flag, drawing sobs and chants of “free Palestine” while receiving the biggest response at this year’s event.

Last week, a number of Hollywood stars joined the film as executive producers including Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara as well as Brad Pitt, Alfonso Cuarón and Jonathan Glazer.

Phoenix and Mara were present at the photo call in Venice and also attended the emotion-charged premiere screening on Wednesday, where the cast of the film held up a photo of the late Hind Rajab throughout the ovation.

Shortly after the incident in which Hind, her relatives and the paramedics were killed, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that an initial investigation suggested its troops had not been within firing range of the car. A spokesperson later said a further investigation was under way, but no outcome has since been published.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 64,231 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The Voice Of Hind Rajab looks likely to win an award in Venice and potentially at the Oscars too.

Tunisia – where its director is from – is putting it forward for consideration for best international feature film at next year’s Academy Awards where it is expected to be a strong favourite.

Ben Hania is no stranger to the Oscars, having been nominated in the documentary category for The Man Who Sold His Skin, and in the international feature film category for last year’s Four Daughters.

At the Venice news conference for her new film, she and her cast were greeted with a separate standing ovation.

Actress Saja Kilani told journalists: “Enough of the mass killing, the starvation, the dehumanisation, the destruction, and the ongoing occupation.”

She added: “This film is not an opinion or a fantasy. It is anchored in truth. Hind’s story carries the weight of an entire people. Her voice is one amongst tens of thousands of children that were killed in Gaza in the last two years alone. It is the voice of every daughter and every son with the right to live, to dream, to exist in dignity. Yet all of it was stolen in front of our unblinking eyes.”

On Saturday in Venice, a large protest gathered on the Lido in support of the Palestinians and to denounce Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Until Wednesday’s premiere, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro previously held the record for the longest film festival standing ovation.

In an interview with GQ magazine last year, he revealed he had been slightly bemused by the experience.

“It’s hard to describe what it is, to go that long, because the first three, four minutes, you’re bathed in a sort of realm of acceptance and joy,” the director said.

“Ten minutes in, you don’t know what to do. You’re just smiling and nodding.”

Dwayne Johnson was recently seen weeping during the 15 minute ovation for his film The Smashing Machine, also at this year’s Venice.