LONDON — The filmmakers of The Voice of Hind Rajab sat for a panel discussion in the UK's House of Lords on Tuesday night, less than two days after attending the Golden Globes in Los Angeles. Directors Jeffrey Friedman and Connie Fields, along with others from the production, talked about their film that recreates the final moments of five-year-old Hind Rajab, who called for help while trapped in a car under fire in Gaza in January 2024. The event brought together people interested in the film and its message about one child's story in a larger conflict.
Background
The film centers on Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl from Gaza City. On January 29, 2024, she was in a car with six family members fleeing fighting. The car came under heavy fire. Hind, the only survivor at first, made emergency calls to volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Those calls, filled with her pleas for help, later spread widely online.
Red Crescent workers tried to reach her. They coordinated an ambulance, but it never arrived. The volunteers faced checkpoints and risks from the ongoing Israeli military operations in the area. Hind's voice on those recordings forms the heart of the movie. Director Kaouther Ben Hania used the real audio mixed with acted scenes to show the rescue efforts and the weight of the moment.
Ben Hania, known for past films like Four Daughters, made this one in Tunisia and France. It stars actors such as Saja Kilani as a young girl voicing Hind's words, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury, and Amer Hlehel. Hlehel, a Palestinian actor from films like Paradise Now, plays a key role. The movie runs 89 minutes and blends real events with drama to highlight the human side of the Gaza war.
Since its debut, the film has gained attention. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2025, winning the Grand Jury Prize and other awards. It screened at Toronto and San Sebastián too, earning high praise from audiences. Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and others joined as executive producers before Venice. Tunisia picked it as its entry for the Academy Awards, where it made the shortlist for Best International Feature. It also got a nomination at the 2026 Golden Globes for Best Non-English Language Film.
Key Details
The panel took place in a room inside the House of Lords, part of the UK Parliament buildings. Organizers set it up to discuss the film's creation and its reach. Jeffrey Friedman and Connie Fields, who led the talk, had just come from the Golden Globes on Sunday, January 11, 2026. They flew to London for this event on Tuesday, January 13.
During the discussion, the filmmakers shared how they built the movie around Hind's actual phone calls. They described working with Hind's family and Red Crescent staff. The goal was to capture the tension of the volunteers' work and the girl's fear without adding extra drama. Amer Hlehel joined some screenings, like one in San Francisco, to talk about his part.
Attendees at the panel included lawmakers, film supporters, and people focused on Gaza issues. The talk lasted into the evening. Filmmakers explained the challenges of mixing real audio with scenes acted by professionals. They noted how Hind's simple words — asking for her mother and aunt — hit hard because they came from a child in real danger.
Film's Path to Awards
The movie opened in theaters in Tunisia soon after Venice. France saw it in late November 2025. In the US, it started limited runs around December 2025, earning over $4 million worldwide so far. Critics called it powerful for its focus on real voices amid war. It got five stars from some UK papers and praise for making viewers feel the urgency. At festivals, it stood out for not sensationalizing the story but letting the facts speak.
What This Means
The Parliament panel shows how the film moves from screens to places where policies form. Filmmakers see it as a way to reach leaders who shape responses to Gaza. By bringing Hind's story to the House of Lords, they aim to keep the focus on individual lives lost in the conflict, which has caused tens of thousands of deaths by UN counts.
Events like this could spark talks among UK officials on aid, rescues, and war rules. The film's awards push — Golden Globes nod, Oscar shortlist, even a BAFTA longlist — gives it a platform. Executive producers like Pitt and Phoenix add weight, drawing more eyes to the events of January 2024.
For the team, the real aim goes beyond trophies. They want the movie to inform decisions on protecting civilians in fights like Gaza's. One filmmaker put it this way during talks:
"Our real hope is that the film can be used as a tool for decision makers."
— Jeffrey Friedman, filmmaker
This panel marks one step in that direction. As screenings continue in places like US theaters into 2026, the story of Hind's voice keeps reaching new groups. It reminds those in power of the calls that went unanswered that day. The film's path from festival wins to Parliament halls points to its growing role in public talks about the war.
