The director of a new film about a five-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza told the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday she wanted to give "a voice and a face" to victims.

"We've seen that the narrative all around the world is that those dying in Gaza are collateral damage, in the media, and I think this is so dehumanising," Franco-Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania told journalists ahead of the world premiere of "The Voice of Hind Rajab".

"And that's why cinema, art, and every kind of expression is very important to give those people a voice and a face."

Gaza has been front and centre at the prestigious event in Venice after a group of filmmakers and others called on festival organisers to more forcefully condemn the war.

Ben Hania's film is one of 21 in the running for the Golden Lion prize.

It tells the true story of the girl who pleaded with emergency services to come and rescue her after Israeli forces killed the rest of her family in their car while evacuating from Gaza in January 2024.

The movie uses the actual audio from phone calls Hind made with the Red Crescent.

"Hind's story carries the weight of an entire people," one of the actors, Saja Kilani, told reporters in a statement that she read out on behalf of the whole cast and crew.

"The real question is, how have we let a child beg for life? No one can live in peace while even one child is forced to plead for survival... Let Hind Rajab's voice echo around the world."

The film received a rare standing ovation at its press screening ahead of the premiere, suggesting it might be a crowd favourite to win the prestigious Golden Lion award, which will be awarded on September 6.

"This movie was very important for me because when I heard the first time the voice of Hind Rajab, there was something more than her voice," Ben Hania said.

"It was the very voice of Gaza asking for help and nobody could enter.

"It was like a kind of strong desire and the feeling of anger and helplessness that gave birth to this movie."

Ben Hania was the first filmmaker to represent Tunisia at the Academy Awards in 2021. (AFP/Reuters)