The film The Voice of Hind Rajab, a harrowing depiction of the final moments of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed during the conflict in Gaza, has received a nomination for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards. The nomination was announced by Letizia Moratti, former Mayor of Milan, who revealed on Instagram that her son, Gabriele Moratti, produced the film.
Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, The Voice of Hind Rajab premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025, where it garnered significant attention and a record-breaking 23-minute and 50-second standing ovation. Attendees reportedly chanted “Free Palestine” as the credits rolled, according to Deadline. The film reconstructs the events surrounding the death of Hind Rajab, her four cousins, her aunt and uncle, and two paramedics who were killed when their vehicle came under fire by Israeli forces in January 2024 even as attempting to evacuate Gaza City.
The film incorporates an actual recording of Hind Rajab’s desperate phone call to the Palestinian Red Crescent as she pleaded for aid while trapped in the car surrounded by the bodies of her family members. Critics have hailed the film as a powerful and urgent portrayal of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with some calling it “the most powerful and urgent entry of this year’s festival,” as reported by The Diplomatic Insight.
Gabriele Moratti’s production company, Memo Films, co-produced the film alongside a prominent group of executive producers including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Alfonso Cuarón. Moratti, whose background includes a career in fashion and photography, founded Redemption, a fashion brand, with friends after initially working in finance and motorcycle design. His family has a long history of philanthropic involvement, particularly with the San Patrignano rehabilitation community.
Letizia Moratti expressed her “profound and moved pride” at her son’s accomplishment and the film’s recognition. She emphasized the film’s importance as a “necessary testimony” that speaks to humanity, memory, and responsibility, and reiterated her condemnation of all forms of violence. Moratti as well noted the film’s focus on a singular human story, aiming to challenge dehumanizing narratives surrounding the conflict.
The nomination comes amidst ongoing international scrutiny of the conflict in Gaza, which, as of September 2025, had resulted in the deaths of more than 61,000 people, nearly a third of whom were under the age of 18, according to Deadline. The film’s selection for an Academy Award nomination is likely to further amplify discussions surrounding the humanitarian situation in the region.