Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara make a public appearance at the Venice Film Festival, advocating for the film 'The Voice of Hind Rajab', a drama centered around Gaza.
In a poignant and powerful display of solidarity, the world premiere of Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania's film, "The Voice of Hind Rajab," took place at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. The film, which tells the story of a young Palestinian girl killed in the conflict in Gaza, was a high-profile event, with Hollywood stars Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara present.
Joining Ben Hania as executive producers for the film are Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Glazer, Dede Garner, and Jeremy Kleiner. The involvement of these global film figures is expected to give the film a significant push, particularly in the U.S. At a Venice press conference earlier on Wednesday, Ben Hania expressed her gratitude for the support of these industry heavyweights.
The usual festive atmosphere of the Venice red carpet was subdued for the premiere of "The Voice of Hind Rajab." A somber ambient score accompanied the arrivals, replacing the usual pumping house music. Ben Hania, her all-Palestinian cast, Phoenix, and Mara wore black and carried a framed photo of 6-year-old Hind Rajab, the film's subject and a victim of the war in Gaza.
Saja Kilani, one of the film's stars, read a statement on behalf of the film team during the press conference, expressing concerns about the ongoing situation in Gaza. The statement read by Kilani stated that "Hind's voice is one amongst tens of thousands of children that were killed in Gaza in the last two years alone."
As the fall festival season's most talked-about title, "The Voice of Hind Rajab" is set to make a lasting impact. The winners of the 2025 Venice Film Festival will be unveiled at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept 6. Festival chief Alberto Barbera walked arm in arm with Ben Hania into the Sala Grande Cinema, marking the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable cinematic journey.
