Tunisian cinema continues to shine internationally. Two fiction feature films, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Kaouther Ben Hania and “Promised Sky” by Erige Sehiri, were recognized at the 40th Mostra de Valencia – Cinema del Mediterrani, which was held from October 23 to November 2, 2025 in Spain.
Two major distinctions for Tunisian cinema
The festival jury awarded the prize for best screenplay to “Promised Sky”, while “The Voice of Hind Rajab” won the public prize, saluting both the narrative force and the emotional scope of these two works.
In “Promised Sky”, Erige Sehiri explores with great sensitivity the theme of migration through the story of three young Ivorian women living in Tunisia, whose lives are turned upside down by the meeting of a four-year-old girl, the sole survivor of a shipwreck at sea. The film rightly questions the notions of family, belonging and solidarity in a fragile social context.
A film committed to Palestinian memory
Awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and already winner of six international prizes, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Kaouther Ben Hania pays tribute to the young Palestinian martyr Hind Rajab, victim of Israeli bombings in Gaza. The film combines fiction and documentary memory to denounce war crimes and testify to the resilience of the Palestinian people.
Ben Hania’s film will officially represent Tunisia at the 98th Oscars, the ceremony of which will be held on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles. For its part, “Promised Sky” will continue its journey at Film Africa, the London festival dedicated to African cinema, from November 14 to 23, 2025.
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