Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, known for her deeply impactful cinematic works, will be honored at the 2026 Biografilm Festival in Bologna, Italy. She will receive the International Celebration of Lives Award, a recognition given to filmmakers whose work significantly influences contemporary cinema and real-world storytelling.
Ben Hania’s film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which contends for the Best International Feature at the 2026 Oscars, has been widely praised. The film tells the poignant story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl whose voice was recorded after she was trapped and killed in an attack on a car in Gaza. The film premiered to critical acclaim, including a prolonged standing ovation and the Silver Lion award at the Venice Film Festival in 2025.
This tribute follows Ben Hania’s previous recognition at the Biografilm Festival in 2024 when her film “Four Daughters” had its Italian premiere. That film blends documentary and fiction to explore the story of a Tunisian mother publicizing the radicalization of her two daughters who joined ISIS.
Festival artistic directors Chiara Liberti and Massimo Benvegnù praised Ben Hania for creating cinema that not only captures reality but questions it with artistic courage and ethical depth. They highlighted her evolution from intimate family narratives to urgent historical testimonies.
Ben Hania’s earlier works, including “The Man Who Sold His Skin” and “Four Daughters,” were also Oscar-nominated, reinforcing her reputation on the international festival circuit.
The Biografilm Festival, now in its 22nd year, focuses on films that celebrate human lives and experiences. Previous recipients of the Celebration of Lives Award include celebrated directors Werner Herzog, Francis Ford Coppola, Radu Jude, and Olivier Assayas. The festival is scheduled to take place in Bologna from June 5 to June 15, 2026.
