Latest news with #GoldenLion
Web Release
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Your Next Unforgettable Moment Awaits Aboard the QE2
Celebrate this summer with curated experiences aboard the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2. From elegant Afternoon Teas and hearty Sunday Roasts to Heritage Tours that bring history to life, the QE2 invites you to create unforgettable memories. Whether treating someone special with a QE2 Experience Gift Voucher or simply indulging in the timeless charm of this legendary vessel, every moment aboard is one to treasure. QE2 Sunday Roast at Queens Grill Looking for the perfect Sunday plan? Join us for a hearty roast at Queen's Grill, think roast beef (or chicken, or lamb!), Yorkshire pudding, and all that you would expect from a British classic. · From only AED 115 per roast or AED 200 for two persons · Every Sunday at the Queens Grill | 12.30pm to 3.30pm · Book your table now – because Sundays deserve the royal treatment. Book Now QE2 Royal Afternoon Tea Step into a world of elegance with the QE2 Royal Afternoon Tea at the Queen's Grill. This historic venue, once the domain of the ship's most distinguished guests, now offers a refined tea experience that brings a touch of British tradition to Dubai. Choose from two exquisite afternoon tea selections: the Cunard, featuring a delightful array of cold bites and pastries, or the Britannia, which adds a warm twist with a selection of hot canapés. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available upon request. (Guests must inform the QE2 team when booking). § Available Fridays and Saturdays between 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm (Last seating at 5:00 pm). § Cunard Package: AED 165 per person / AED 110 per child (6 – 12 years old, children below 6 years dine free) § Britannia Package: AED 195 per person / AED 135 per child (6 – 12 years old, children below 6 years dine free) § Dress Code: Smart Casual Please note that a 24-hour advance booking is required. All our prices are in AED inclusive of 5% VAT, 7% municipality fee and 10% service charge. Book Now QE2 Heritage Tour Step back in time with our Heritage Tour and discover what life was like aboard the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 during her sailing years. Curated by exhibition experts and world-class designers, the tour features an extraordinary collection of original artefacts thoughtfully displayed to transport you to the golden age of ocean travel. Daily 11:00 am & 5:00 pm AED 85 Per person Book Now The Golden Lion Step into the Golden Lion, Dubai's oldest floating pub, for a taste of Britain by the sea. Whether you are in the mood for crispy fish and chips or a hearty burger, the Golden Lion offers a comforting taste of home. Golden Hour: 50% off select drinks | Daily 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Teacher Special: 20% off food & drinks | Daily 8:00 pm to 12:00 am Valid for teachers with ID. Up to 4 guests. Not applicable during key events. Book Now QE2 Experience Gift Voucher Not every gift fits in a box. Some come wrapped in history, sea views, and timeless moments. The QE2 Experience Gift Voucher invites your loved ones to enjoy the experience of their choice, whether it's a romantic stay with stunning sea views, a refined Royal Afternoon Tea, a hearty Sunday Roast, a journey through time on our Heritage Tour, or a memorable Captain's Dinner. Whatever the occasion, let them unwrap a moment aboard Dubai's most legendary destination, the Queen Elizabeth 2. Buy a Gift Voucher For inquiries, please call +971 4 526 8888 or email [email protected]
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Park Chan-wook's Triumphant Venice Return After 20 Years - Korean Cinema's Historic Moment!
Director Park chan wook Hold onto your popcorn, film fanatics! The cinema world just got a massive shakeup as Korean auteur Park Chan-wook storms back into Venice's most coveted competition section after a jaw-dropping 20-year absence. His latest masterpiece " No Other Choice " has officially been selected for the 82nd Venice International Film Festival , and trust us, this is bigger than you think! This isn't just another film selection - it's a full-blown cultural milestone! For the first time in 13 long years, a Korean film has managed to crack the ultra-exclusive Venice competition lineup. The last time this happened? Kim Ki-duk's "Pieta" snatched the Golden Lion back in 2012, making history in the process. The Venice bigwigs dropped this bombshell during their live YouTube announcement on July 22, revealing 21 competition films that'll battle it out for cinema supremacy. Park Chan-wook's inclusion marks his triumphant second entry into Venice's hallowed halls, following his 2005 stint with "Lady Vengeance," where he walked away with three prestigious awards including the Young Lion Award. When Desperation Meets Determination by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Is Why Smart People Always Keep Baking Soda At Home Read More Undo "No Other Choice" isn't your typical feel-good flick - it's a raw, unflinching look at modern survival. The story centers around Man-su, a seemingly content office worker whose world crumbles when he's suddenly shown the door. With a wife, Mi-ri, and two kids depending on him, he's forced into increasingly desperate measures during his job hunt. Sound familiar? This storyline hits harder than a Mumbai local during rush hour, resonating with millions of young Indians navigating today's cutthroat job market. Whether you're in Seoul or Bengaluru, the struggle for employment security is painfully universal. Based on Donald Westlake's gripping novel "The AX," this film marks Park's highly anticipated return three years after his critically acclaimed "Decision to Leave" (2022). The casting is absolutely fire - Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin team up as a married couple for the first time ever, supported by powerhouse performers Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yum Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won. Stars Can't Contain Their Excitement The emotions are running high in the Korean film community! Park Chan-wook himself couldn't hide his feelings about Venice calling: "After completing the film and receiving the Venice invitation, I think it was good that I didn't give up on this work during all those long years." The director had previously called this project "the work I most wanted to make" when filming wrapped in January. Lee Byung-hun's enthusiasm is absolutely infectious: "I'm so eager to see the finished work that I can hardly wait!" Meanwhile, Son Ye-jin expressed pure joy: "Having Venice as my first international film festival visit is incredibly moving and glorious." Their excitement mirrors what we'd feel seeing our favorite Bollywood stars making waves at Cannes! Korean Wave Tsunami Continues Here's where it gets even more interesting - " No Other Choice" isn't the only Korean-connected project making Venice waves! "Bugonia," a Hollywood remake of Jang Joon-hwan's cult classic "Save the Green Planet" (2003), has also secured a competition slot. Directed by Greek master Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, with CJ ENM as co-producer, this shows how Korean creativity is being reimagined for global audiences. This double Korean presence at Venice demonstrates the incredible reach of K-content - similar to how our desi stories are finding new life in international markets. It's proof that great storytelling transcends borders, whether it's flowing from Seoul studios or Mumbai production houses. The Competition Heats Up The Venice competition lineup reads like a who's who of international cinema. Park Chan-wook will face off against heavyweights including Luca Guadagnino's "After the Hunt" starring Julia Roberts, Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother," Francois Ozon's "L'Etranger," and Guillermo del Toro's highly anticipated "Frankenstein." While no Indian films made it into this year's competition section, Venice remains crucial for Asian cinema representation alongside Cannes and Berlin. The festival runs from August 27 to September 6, with all eyes on the Golden Lion prize. The stakes couldn't be higher. Just as "Pieta" created history 13 years ago by becoming the first Korean film to win the Golden Lion, there's palpable excitement about whether lightning can strike twice. Park Chan-wook's track record suggests we're in for something special. The unemployment crisis depicted in "No Other Choice" speaks to a generation that's witnessed economic uncertainty across continents. From Korean chaebols downsizing to Indian startups facing funding crunches, the film's themes of desperation and survival hit close to home for young professionals everywhere.
See - Sada Elbalad
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Venice Film Festival 2025 Lineup Revealed
Yara Sameh Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera has revealed a rich mix of buzzy movies with big stars — as well as smaller titles with awards potential — that will be vying for the Golden Lion during the upcoming 82nd edition. Hotly anticipated new works from Kathryn Bigelow, Guillermo Del Toro, Noah Baumbach, Mona Fastvold, Luca Guadagnino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Olivier Assayas, Park Chan-wook, Benny Safdie, and more are set for Lido launches, making for a cornucopia of cinematic offerings. The festival features big-name films premiering at Venice include Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine' from A24, featuring Dwayne Johnson as two-time UFC heavyweight champ Mark Kerr and Emily Blunt as his wife Dawn; Focus Features' 'Bugonia,' the latest collaboration between Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, who were last at the fest in 2023 with the Oscar-winning 'Poor Things'; and Luca Guadagnino's psychological drama 'After the Hunt' starring Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri. Guadagnino's latest feature film, which hails from Amazon MGM Studios, is in an out-of-competition slot. Barbera noted that it has been Guadagnino and Amazon/MGM's choice to launch out-of-competition and proudly pointed out that 'After the Hunt' will mark the first time for Julia Roberts on the Venice red carpet. 'We will be welcoming her with great pleasure,' he said. Mona Fastvold's 'The Testament of Ann Lee,' starring Amanda Seyfried as the titular founding leader of the Shaker Movement who was proclaimed as the female Christ by her followers, will bow in competition. The indie film, inspired by real events, was co-written by Fastvold and her partner Brady Corbet ('The Brutalist'). Netflix – as has been the case in the past – will have a robust Venice presence with a trio of high-profile movies, all in competition. The streaming giant's Lido launches comprise Kathryn Bigelow's politically charged 'A House of Dynamite,' marking Bigelow's first time behind the camera since 2017's 'Detroit.' Set during a fictional national security crisis at the White House, 'House of Dynamite' stars Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Gabriel Basso and Jared Harris. Then there is Noah Baumbach's comedy-drama 'Jay Kelly' co-written with Emily Mortimer and starring George Clooney 'who plays a successful actor going through an identity crisis,' said Barbera, as its titular character, and Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein,' a new take on the classic monster movie with Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth. They are all Netflix original films. But when it comes to streamers making a splash on the Lido, this year's big novelty is repped by expanding arthouse platform Mubi. Mubi has the fest's previously announced opener, Paolo Sorrentino's love story 'La Grazia,' which re-teams the Oscar-winning Italian director with 'The Great Beauty' actor Toni Servillo. The specialty streamer is also on the Lido with Jim Jarmusch triptych film 'Father Mother Sister Brother,' which stars Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Adam Driver and Charlotte Rampling. Mubi also has South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook's 12th feature 'No Other Choice,' marking 20 years since his 'Lady Vengeance' made a major splash on the Lido. Neon has North American distribution rights. Also launching in the Lido competition from Asia are 'The Sun Rises on Us All' by veteran auteur Can Shangjun, who won the Silver Lion for best director at Venice in 2011 with 'People Mountain People Sea,' and 'Girl,' the directorial debut of Taiwanese superstar Shu Qi, a frequent Hou Hsiao-hsien collaborator. Standout out-of-competition titles incude Julian Schnabel's star-studded crime mystery 'In The Hand of Dante,' with an ensemble cast comprising Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler and Martin Scorsese (who plays Dante Alighieri's mentor); Gus Van Sant's hostage thriller 'Dead Man's Wire' with Bill Skarsgård, Colman Domingo, Dacre Montgomery and Al Pacino; Sofia Coppola's documentary tribute to fashion designer Marc Jacobs 'Marc by Sophia'; Werner Herzog's doc 'Ghost Elephants,' which follows a mysterious herd of elephants in the jungles of Angola; and Lucrezia Martel's 'Nuestra Tierra,' about the murder of indigenous activist Javier Chocobar. Noting that Schnabel's film had been held up in a dispute with producers over its 150 minute length, Barbera pointed out that the majority of films at Venice this year, with only one exception, 'last between 2 hours and 15 minutes and 2 hours and 30 minutes,' he said. 'This seems to have become the new international production standard,' Barbera added. 'It's a bit worrying, let me tell you, even for festival programmers because cramming all these movies in our programming calendar is becoming problematic. But we will figure it out.' Leading the crème de la crème French contingent in competition are two major auteurs backed by Gaumont. The venerable French studio will premiere Olivier Assayas' big-budget political thriller 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' which explores the rise of Vladimir Putin — played by Jude Law — and also stars Paul Dano, and Alicia Vikander. Gaumont will also showcase Francois Ozon's comeback to the Lido with 'The Stranger,' his adaptation of the Albert Camus classic exploring themes of human cruelty, existentialism and post-colonialism in 1930s Algeria. Actor-director Valérie Donzelli is in competition with 'À Pied D'Oeuvre,' a drama about a man who goes through lots of changes to pursue his latent dream of becoming a writer. The film is co-written by Donzelli and Gilles Marchand. France also has the fest's out-of-competition closer: Studiocanal's dystopian thriller 'Chien 51,' directed by Cedric Jimenez, starring two of the country's most bankable actors: Adèle Exarchopoulos ('Beating Hearts') and Gilles Lellouche ('The Stronghold'). The movie is produced by the Mediawan-owned Chi-Fou-Mi banner. From elsewhere in Europe, Oscar-winning Hungarian helmer László Names ('Son of Saul') is in competition with period drama 'Orphan,' about a Jewish boy raised by his mother with idealized tales of his deceased father. Also competing from Hungary is the drama 'Silent Friend' by Ildiko Enyedi ('On Body and Soul'), centered around a majestic tree in a botanical garden that observes humans, with an ensemble cast comprising Hong Kong's Tony Leung Chiu-wai in his first role in a European film. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is repped in competition by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania's hot-button political drama 'The Voice of Hind Rajab,' about the killing of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was left stranded in a car that had been attacked by Israeli forces in Gaza on Jan. 29, 2024 and later found dead. 'I think this is one of the films that will make a greater impression, and I hope not polemics,' said Barbera. He noted that Ben Hania used the real audio tapes of phone calls between the girl and her mother. Saudi Arabian director Shahad Ameen, whose feminist fable 'Scales' made a splash after launching from Venice in 2019, is back on the Lido with 'Hijra,' a drama centered on the bond formed between different generations of Saudi women during a journey across the desert. 'Hijra' will play in Venice's new Venezia Spotlight section that replaces Horizons Extra. Opening the Horizons section dedicated to more cutting-edge works is 'Mother,' which marks the English-language debut of North Macedonian filmmaker Teona Strugar Mitevska ('God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya') and stars Noomi Rapace as Mother Teresa. The robust Italian roster includes 'Below the Clouds,' the new high-profile doc by Gianfranco Rosi whose 'Sacro GRA' scooped the 2013 Venice Golden Lion and 'Duse,' Pietro Marcello's biopic of legendary Italian stage diva Eleonora Duse, played by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, in competition. 'A Year of School' by rising auteur Laura Samani, who made a splash with 'Small Body' in 2021, is launching in Horizons, as is 'The Kidnapping of Arabella,' the sophomore film by Carolina Cavalli whose 'Amanda' was a standout in Orizzonti Extra in 2022. Italy's Benedetta Porcaroli ('The Leopard') and Chris Pine co-star in 'Arabella'. Interestingly, Italian directors have secured three of Venice's four slots dedicated to TV series. Veteran auteur Marco Bellocchio will launch a show titled 'Portobello' that reconstructs one of Italy's most clamorous travesties of justice, while genre specialist Stefano Sollima will bow Netflix original 'The Monster of Florence,' about a harrowing string of sex-related murders that took place outside Florence from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. Studiocanal series 'A Prophet,' directed by Italy's Enrico Maria Artale ('Django' the series), is an adaptation of Jacques Audiard's 2009 film with a diverse new cast led by Mamadou Sidibé. The fourth TV series premiering at Venice is 'Etty,' an adaptation of the diaries of Dutch author Etty Hillesum, who was murdered in Auschwitz. It's directed by Hagai Levi, the creator of Israeli TV series 'Be'Tipul,' which was adapted into HBO's 'In Treatment.' Two-time Oscar winner Alexander Payne will preside over the main jury. The 82nd edition of Venice will run August 27-September 6. See the full lineup below. COMPETITION 'La Grazia,' Paolo Sorrentino (opening film) 'The Wizard of the Kremlin,' Olivier Assayas 'Jay Kelly,' Noah Baumbach 'The Voice of Hind Rajab,' Kaouther Ben Hania 'A House of Dynamite,' Kathryn Bigelow 'Ri Gua Zhong Tian' ('The Sun Rises on Us All'), Cai Shangjun 'Frankenstein,' Guillermo del Toro 'Elisa,' Leonardo di Costanzo 'À Pied d'Oeuvre,' Valérie Donzelli 'Silent Friend,' Ildikó Enyedi 'The Testament of Ann Lee,' Mona Fastvold 'Father Mother Sister Brother,' Jim Jarmusch 'Bugonia,' Yorgos Lanthimos 'Duse,' Pietro Marcello 'Un Film Fatto Per Bene,' Franco Maresco 'Orphan,' László Nemes 'L'Étranger,' François Ozon 'Eojjeol Suga Eopda' ('No Other Choice'), Park Chan-wook 'Sotto Le Nuvole,' Gianfranco Rosi 'The Smashing Machine,' Benny Safdie 'Nühai' ('Girl'), Shu Qi OUT OF COMPETITION — FICTION 'Chien 51,' Cédric Jimenez (closing film) 'Boşluğa Xütbə' ('Sermon to the Void'), Hilal Baydarov 'L'Isola di Andrea,' Antonio Capuano 'Il Maestro,' Andrea di Stefano 'After the Hunt,' Luca Guadagnino 'Hateshinaki Scarlet,' Mamoru Hosoda 'Den Sidste Viking' ('The Last Viking'), Anders Thomas Jensen 'In the Hand of Dante,' Julian Schnabel 'La Valle Dei Sorrisi,' Paolo Strippoli 'Dead Man's Wire,' Gus Van Sant 'Orfeo,' Virgilio Villoresi OUT OF COMPETITION — SERIES 'Portobello' (Ep. 1-2), Marco Bellocchio 'Un Prophète' (Ep. 1-8), Enrico Maria Artale 'Etty' (Ep. 1-6), Hagai Levi 'Il Mostro' (Ep. 1-4), Stefano Sollima OUT OF COMPETITION — NON-FICTION 'Kabul, Between Prayers,' Aboozar Amini 'Ferdinando Scianna – Il Fotografo Dell'Ombra,' Roberto Andò 'Marc by Sofia,' Sofia Coppola 'I Diari di Angela – Noi Due Cineasti. Capitolo Terzo,' Yervant Gianikian and Angela Ricci Lucchi 'Ghost Elephants,' Werner Herzog 'Baba Wa Al-Qadhafi' ('My Father and Qaddafi'), Jihan K 'The Tale of Sylian,' Tamara Kotevska 'Nuestra Tierra,' Lucrecia Martel 'Remake,' Ross McElwee 'Kim Novak's Vertigo,' Alexandre Philippe 'Cover-Up,' Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus 'Broken English,' Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth 'Zapiski Nastoyashego Prestupnika' ('Notes of a True Criminal'), Alexander Rodnyansky and Andriy Alferov 'Director's Diary,' Aleksander Sokurov 'Hui Jia' ('Back Home'), Tsai Ming-liang OUT OF COMPETITION — FILM & MUSIC 'Nino. 18 Giorni,' Toni D'Angelo 'Piero Pelù. Rumore Dentro,' Francesco Fei 'Newport and the Great Folk Dream,' Robert Gordon and Joe Lauro 'Francesco de Gregori Nevergreen,' Stefano Pistolini OUT OF COMPETITION — SHORTS 'Origin,' Yann Arthus-Bertrand 'Boomerang Atomic,' Rachid Bouchareb 'How to Shoot a Ghost,' Charlie Kaufman HORIZONS 'Mother,' Teona Strugar Mitevska 'Komedie Elahi' ('Divine Comedy'), Ali Asgari 'Hiedra,' Ana Cristina Barragan 'Il Rapimento di Arabella,' Carolina Cavalli 'Estrany Riu' ('Strange River'), Jaume Claret Muxart 'Hara Watan' ('Lost Land'), Akio Fujimoto 'Grand Ciel,' Akihiro Hata 'Rose of Nevada,' Mark Jenkin 'Late Fame,' Kent Jones 'Milk Teeth,' Mihai Mincan 'Pin de Fartie,' Alejo Moguillansky 'Otec' ('Father'), Tereza Nvotova 'En El Camino,' David Pablos 'Songs of Forgotten Trees,' Anuparna Roy 'Un Anno di Scuola,' Laura Samani 'The Souffleur,' Gastón Solnicki 'Barrio Triste,' Stillz 'Human Resource,' Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit 'Funeral Casino Blues,' Roderick Warich VENICE SPOTLIGHT 'Hijra,' Shahad Ameen 'Un Cabo Suelto,' Daniel Hendler 'Made in EU,' Stephan Komandarev 'Motor City,' Potsy Ponciroli 'La Hija de la Española,' Mariana Rondón and Marité Ugás 'À Bras-Le-Corps,' Marie-Elsa Sgualdo 'Calle Malaga,' Maryam Touzani 'Ammazzare Stanca,' Daniele Vicari read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Broadcast Pro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Kaouther Ben Hania's ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab' to premiere at Venice Film Festival
Ben Hania obtained the full 70-minute recording from the Red Crescent, spoke with Hind's mother and rescuers, and crafted a script centered on silence, fear, and the agonising wait for help, rather than visible violence. Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania's latest feature, The Voice of Hind Rajab, will premiere in the main Competition at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, which runs from August 27 to September 9. The announcement was made by festival director Alberto Barbera, who described the film as a profoundly moving work likely to leave a lasting impression on both audiences and critics. The Voice of Hind Rajab has been nominated for the Golden Lion, the festival's top prize. The film centres on the harrowing true story of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed along with six members of her family during an Israeli attack in Gaza in 2024. While fleeing Gaza City, their car was shelled, killing Hind's uncle, aunt and three cousins. Hind and another cousin initially survived and contacted the Palestine Red Crescent Society for help. Days later, their bodies were discovered along with the paramedics who had attempted a rescue. The tragedy drew global attention, with protests erupting around the world. At Columbia University, students renamed Hamilton Hall to 'Hind's Hall,' and American rapper Macklemore released a protest anthem bearing the same name. According to the official synopsis, the film begins on January 29, 2024, when Red Crescent volunteers receive a desperate emergency call. On the other end is a six-year-old girl trapped in a car, pleading for rescue as gunfire rages outside. The Red Crescent team does everything in their power to reach her in time. Her name is Hind Rajab. Ben Hania, best known for her acclaimed documentary Four Daughters, which premiered at Cannes in 2023 and earned an Oscar nomination, revealed that the decision to make The Voice of Hind Rajab was deeply personal and immediate. While traveling for Four Daughters' awards campaign, she came across an audio clip of Hind's final call for help. The impact, she said, was instant and transformative. 'I heard the sound of her voice, and I felt the ground shift beneath me,' Ben Hania recalled. 'In that moment, I knew I couldn't carry on with my original plans. I had to make this film.' She added: 'I contacted the Red Crescent and asked them to let me hear the full audio. It was about 70 minutes long, and harrowing. 'After listening to it, I knew, without a doubt, that I had to drop everything else. I had to make this film. I spoke at length with Hind's mother, with the real people who were on the other end of that call, those who tried to help her. I listened, I cried, I wrote. 'Then I wove a story around their testimonies, using the real audio recording of Hind's voice, and building a single-location film where the violence remains off-screen. That was a deliberate choice. Because violent images are everywhere on our screens, our timelines, our phones.' She concluded: 'What I wanted was to focus on the invisible: the waiting, the fear, the unbearable sound of silence when help doesn't come. Sometimes, what you don't see is more devastating than what you do. 'At the heart of this film is something very simple, and very hard to live with. I cannot accept a world where a child calls for help and no one comes. That pain, that failure, belongs to all of us. This story is not just about Gaza. It speaks to a universal grief. And I believe that fiction (especially when it draws from verified, painful, real events) is cinema's most powerful tool. More powerful than the noise of breaking news or the forgetfulness of scrolling. Cinema can preserve a memory. Cinema can resist amnesia. May Hind Rajab's voice be heard.'
The National
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
'I had to make this film': Kaouther Ben Hania brings Hind Rajab's story to Venice Film Festival
Twice Oscar-nominated Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania 's next film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, will debut in competition at the Venice Film Festival, scheduled to run from August 27 until September 9. The film dramatises the final hours of six-year-old Palestinian child Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli fire in January 2024 after being stranded in a car with her dead relatives in Gaza. Her recorded cries for help, made during a 70-minute call with emergency responders, were widely circulated online and became a haunting symbol of the war's toll on civilians. The Voice of Hind Rajab has been nominated for the Golden Lion, the festival's top prize. It will compete against several high-profile films, including Frankenstein by Guillermo Del Toro, No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook, and A House of Dynamite by Kathryn Bigelow. Ben Hania, whose last film Four Daughters was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2024 Academy Awards, says she was compelled to change course entirely after hearing Hind's voice for the first time. 'There was something electric in the energy around this project – so immediate, so alive,' she said in a statement. 'In all my years as a filmmaker, I never imagined it would be possible to go from start to finish in just 12 months.' She explained that the idea came to her during a layover in Los Angeles, while she was in the middle of her Oscar campaign for Four Daughters. 'Then, everything shifted. I heard an audio recording of Hind Rajab begging for help. By then, her voice had already spread across the internet. 'I immediately felt a mix of helplessness, and an overwhelming sadness. A physical reaction, like the ground shifted under me. I couldn't carry on as planned.' Ben Hania obtained the full audio through the Red Crescent. 'It was about 70 minutes long, and harrowing,' she said. 'After listening to it, I knew, without a doubt, that I had to drop everything else. I had to make this film.' The film uses the real audio recording as a central narrative thread. Shot in a single location, the movie avoids visual depictions of violence, opting instead to focus on tension, silence, and the growing fear of a child left without rescue. 'What I wanted was to focus on the invisible: the waiting, the fear, the unbearable sound of silence when help doesn't come,' said Ben Hania. 'Sometimes, what you don't see is more devastating than what you do.' 'At the heart of this film is something very simple, and very hard to live with. I cannot accept a world where a child calls for help and no one comes. That pain, that failure, belongs to all of us.' Hind's mother, Wissam Hamadah, said she was contacted by Ben Hania about the project a year ago. 'Despite the pain and the weight of grief, I felt that Hind's voice needed to be heard loud and clear,' she said. 'One year later, we are moved that this film will be shown at the Venice Film Festival. As a mother, nothing will ever heal the wound of losing my daughter. But knowing that her voice will now echo across the world gives me strength.' 'Thank you Kaouther and all the team for making this movie.' Ben Hania added that while The Voice of Hind Rajab is a deeply personal story of loss, it also carries a wider resonance. 'This story is not just about Gaza. It speaks to a universal grief,' she said. 'Cinema can preserve a memory. Cinema can resist amnesia. May Hind Rajab's voice be heard.'
