��������

DUBAI: Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have joined Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s Gaza-set drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab” as executive producers, boosting the film’s visibility ahead of its Venice Film Festival debut.

They are joined by “The Zone of Interest” director Jonathan Glazer and “Roma” filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, while several high-profile companies, including Britain’s Film4 and ��������’s MBC Studios, are also backing the project.

The film will premiere in competition at Venice on Sept. 3 before traveling to the Toronto International Film Festival for its North American debut.

The film, “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” reconstructs the tragic events of January 2024, when 6-year-old Hind Rajab was killed by the Israeli military, along with several relatives, while fleeing Gaza City in a car.

The film draws on the voice recordings between Rajab and Red Crescent volunteers who tried to keep her on the line, desperately attempting to send help.

Ben Hania is known for blending documentary and fiction. Her Oscar-nominated “Four Daughters” and earlier feature “The Man Who Sold His Skin” both received acclaim, with the latter also landing a best international feature nomination.

This year’s Venice Film Festival is set against the backdrop of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Hundreds of political and grassroots groups have announced plans for a march on Aug. 30, protesting Israel’s alleged genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

DUBAI: Flute in hand and a deep connection to both East and West, Daniel Alhaiby is preparing for his first solo concert at Lebanon’s Casino du Liban on Sept. 10.

The performance follows his years of experience playing at prestigious venues and events, including the Cannes Film Festival, where he shared his music with international audiences.

“Cannes is pure magic. Each time I play, I feel like I’m representing not just myself, but a whole culture, a whole story,” Alhaiby told Arab News.

Returning to Lebanon for his solo concert is a deeply personal moment for Alhaiby.

“Performing in Lebanon is like coming full circle for me. It’s where everything started, and it holds so much significance,” he said.

“Sharing my music in my home country feels like a celebration of my journey, from Paris to the world stage and back home again.

“Casino du Liban has always been a dream venue for me … The audience can expect a truly special experience. I’ve carefully crafted the setlist to take them on a musical journey that blends my original compositions with reimagined classics.”

Alhaiby’s musical influences are diverse, ranging from Piazzolla and Rimsky-Korsakov to Fairuz, Hans Zimmer, Pink Floyd and Bach.

“I’m influenced by emotion more than genre. Anything that moves me, be it a Bach partita or an oriental improvisation, finds its way into my music,” he said.

The musician shared that he was drawn to the flute from a “very young age,” saying: “Its sound always felt close to my soul, there’s something about its breathy, expressive tone that connected deeply with my emotions. Over time, it became more than just an instrument; it became my voice, my way of expressing everything words couldn’t.”