A lead Palestinian actor in the Oscar-nominated Voice of Hind Rajab says he will not be able to attend the award ceremony on Sunday in Los Angeles because the US government has denied him a visa due to his Palestinian citizenship.
“I am not allowed to enter the United. States because of my Palestinian citizenship. It hurts. But here is the truth: you can block a passport, you cannot block a voice,” Motaz Malhees, who portrays Omar A. Alqam in the movie, writes on Instagram.
The Oscar-nominated The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, first drew international attention when it premiered in the main competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2025, where it won the Grand Jury Prize along with six additional parallel awards.
As the film continued gaining recognition across the global awards circuit, its momentum reached Hollywood with a nomination for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
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Friday, March 13, 2026
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