Kawthar Ben Hania, the Tunisian filmmaker behind ‘The Voice of Hind’, made headlines by refusing the prestigious ‘Most Valuable Film’ award at the Cinema for Peace event held in Berlin. This ceremony coincided with the Berlin Film Festival and aimed to spotlight films promoting peace. However, Ben Hania’s refusal stemmed from her outrage over the political support and coverage of Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza.
Ben Hania articulated her stance by highlighting the tragic death of a five-year-old Palestinian girl at the hands of the Israeli army, asserting that such incidents are not anomalies but part of a systematic genocide. She addressed the audience, stating, “Peace is not a fragrance to be sprinkled over violence to allow the facade of civility to prevail. If we speak of peace, we must also speak of justice. Justice means accountability.”The director emphasized that the Israeli army, in collaboration with the world’s most powerful governments and institutions, is responsible for the deaths of Rajab, his family, and two rescuers who came to aid them. By refusing to allow the film industry to use her documentary for ‘whitewashing’ purposes, she placed the award on the stage as a reminder of the structures that enable widespread civilian massacres.
She declared, “I will not allow their deaths to become a backdrop for a polite speech about peace. When peace is pursued as a legal and moral commitment rooted in accountability for genocide, I will return and accept it with joy.” Ben Hania’s public stance in Berlin coincided with an open letter signed by over 80 prominent figures in cinema, including actors Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton, and Brian Cox, as well as directors Mike Leigh and Adam McKay, criticizing the Berlin International Film Festival for its silence on the Gaza genocide.’The Voice of Hind’ tells the heartbreaking story of a five-year-old girl named Hind Rajab who was killed by the Israeli regime’s army. The film has garnered critical acclaim winning the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and receiving accolades at other festivals including San Sebastián. It represents Tunisia as a nominee for the International Oscar.
