Two films from MAD Solutions’ distribution slate won awards at the closing of the 26th Khouribga International African Film Festival — Kaouther Ben Hania’s THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, which went home with the Ousmane Sembène Grand Prix, and Mohamed Rashad’s THE SETTLEMENT, which claimed the Noureddine Saïl Jury Prize.
 
By taking home the festival’s highest honor, THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB not only solidifies its standing on the world stage but also reaffirms its deep emotional resonance as a critical heavyweight in contemporary cinema.
 
Crafted by celebrated Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, renowned for her boundary-pushing works like THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN and FOUR DAUGHTERS, THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB enjoyed a historic debut at the Venice International Film Festival. The screening culminated in a breathtaking standing ovation exceeding 20 minutes, cementing its place as the longest-applauded film in the history of the prestigious festival.
 
A Tunisian-French co-production, the film is based on the devastating true story of Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. It is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, and Alfonso Cuarón, alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner through Plan B Entertainment, with Film4 and MBC Studios receiving “In Association With” credits. Additional executive producers include Jemima Khan, Frank Giustra, and Sabine Getty.
 
By integrating the actual voice recordings between Hind and the Red Crescent volunteers, the film establishes a raw, undeniable emotional core. As Kaouther Ben Hania observes: “Hind’s voice, in that terrifying moment, was no longer just a child’s plea. It felt like the voice of Gaza itself, shouting into a void, only to be met with cold indifference and absolute silence.”
 
This Grand Prix victory acts as the crowning achievement for the film. Building on its prestigious Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, the feature has collected widespread accolades across the globe, sweeping audience awards at the Warsaw, Mostra de València, and La Roche-sur-Yon international film festivals, along with nominations for a BAFTA, Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. Coupled with top honors from critics groups, including the Montpellier International Mediterranean Film Festival and the Egyptian Film Critics Association Annual Awards, the film has firmly established itself as both a universal crowd favorite and a critical masterpiece.
 
The film has since screened at major international festivals worldwide, serving as the closing film of the 46th Cairo International Film Festival and the opening film of the inaugural Doha Film Festival. Its awards include Grand Prize for Best Film of 2025 at the Ghent International Film Festival, Audience Award at the Leeds International Film Festival, and San Sebastián International Film Festival.
 
Adding to MAD’s strong presence at the festival, THE SETTLEMENT claimed the Noureddine Saïl Jury Prize. The film held its world premiere to critical acclaim in the Perspectives section of the Berlin International Film Festival, where it was the only Egyptian film featured in that category.
 
Inspired by true events, director Mohamed Rashad follows two brothers — 23-year-old Hossam and his 12-year-old sibling Maro — living in a marginalized community in Alexandria.
After their father dies in a workplace accident, the local factory offers them jobs as compensation, sidestepping legal accountability. As they settle into their new roles, the brothers begin to question the circumstances surrounding their father’s death.
 
The film later received its first accolade, the Audience Award at the sixth MiWorld Young Film Festival, before continuing its international journey with screenings at Italy’s African, Asian, and Latin American Film Festival (FESCAAL) and the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen. The Egyptian workplace thriller claimed the El Gouna Bronze Star and Audience Award at the Afrikaldia Film Festival. Most recently, Adham Shukr won the Best Actor Award at the 10th Critics Awards for Arab Films organized by Arab Cinema Center at the Marche du Film Cannes Film Festival.
 
A joint production between Egypt, France, Germany, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, the film is produced by Hala Lotfy of Hassala Films (Cairo), with co-producers Etienne de Ricaud of Caractères Productions (Paris), Kesmat Elsayed of Seera Films GmbH (Berlin), and ART (Jeddah).
 
Mohamed Rashad is an Egyptian director, writer, and producer who graduated from the University of Alexandria with a degree in civil engineering. After completing a two-year filmmaking workshop at the Jesuit Cultural Film School of Alexandria, he directed two short fiction films: FROM AFAR (2005) and MAXIM (2007). He later served as an assistant director on several notable films, including COMING FORTH BY DAY, directed by Hala Lotfy, with whom he co-founded Hassala Films.
 
In 2016, he directed his first feature documentary film, LITTLE EAGLES, which premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival and won the Best Documentary Award at the Malmö Arab Film Festival and the Jury Award at the Luxor African Film Festival. Later in 2019, he served as a producer on Ramez Youssef’s feature documentary THE PROFESSION, which received a Black Iris Award—Special Mention at the Amman International Film Festival.
 
With THE SETTLEMENT and THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB both achieving major recognition at FICAK, MAD continues to amplify bold, resonant, and boundary-pushing cinema from the Arab world and beyond. These victories highlight the filmmakers’ artistic vision and the growing global appetite for stories rooted in identity, justice, community, and memory.