The Voice of Hind Rajab wins Grand Prix at Film Fest Gent
The Grand Prix at Film Fest Gent was awarded to The Voice of Hind Rajab, the latest film by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania. The international jury hailed the film, about the death of a young girl in Gaza, as "a call for humanity", praising its emotional power and moral urgency.
Blending real emergency calls with staged reconstructions, the film revisits the final moments of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was trapped in a car under Israeli fire in Gaza while speaking to the Palestinian Red Crescent. "I cannot accept a world where a child cries for help and no one comes," Ben Hania said.
The jury commended the film for transforming a child’s voice into "a powerful cry for humanity".
The Grand Prix includes a 20,000 euro distribution grant and a 30,000 euro media campaign. The film is set to be released in Belgium by Cinéart on 19 November.
"I cannot accept a world where a child cries for help and no one comes"
A Special Mention went to Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason for The Love That Remains, which the jury praised as "strikingly original and poetic" in its portrayal of family and loss.
The Georges Delerue Award for Best Soundtrack went to Barrio Triste by Colombian-American filmmaker Stillz, who is renowned for his music videos for Bad Bunny and Rosalía. His debut feature, set in 1980s Medellín and scored by Arca, was praised for its uncompromising sound design and haunting emotional intensity.
The festival closed on Saturday evening with Urchin, the directorial debut of British actor Harris Dickinson.
Film Fest Gent, founded in 1974, has become Belgium's largest film festival, attracting over 100,000 visitors each year. Renowned for its long-standing focus on film music, including the prestigious World Soundtrack Awards, it occupies a unique position on the international festival calendar by bridging the worlds of cinema and music.
#FlandersNewsService | Kaouther Ben Hania and Alberto Barbera at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival © PHOTO IMAGEBROKER
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