Saja Kilani

EARLY LIFE

Saja Kilani was born on January 14, 1998, in Amman, Jordan, to a Palestinian-Jordanian family. She later lived in Canada, where she pursued her higher education. Growing up, she was influenced by family stories of Palestinian heritage passed down by her grandparents, as she has never been able to visit Palestine. These roots have strongly shaped her identity and artistic focus on underrepresented voices and storytelling.

CAREER

Kilani trained formally in acting after completing her academic degrees. At the Toronto Film School, she received the Best Female Performance Award for her work in student productions, including the short film What’s Your Emergency? (2023), which she wrote and directed (about a woman fleeing an abusive husband). Her first feature-length screen role was the lead in the Jordanian film Simsim (2025), for which she won the Best First Time Lead Actress Award (or Special Mention in some reports) at the Amman International Film Festival. Her international breakthrough came with the leading role of Rana Hassan Faqih, a Palestine Red Crescent Society volunteer, in Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025). The film, based on the real emergency calls of 5- or 6-year-old Hind Rajab trapped under fire in Gaza, premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival to a standing ovation and won the Grand Jury Prize (Silver Lion). It received nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs. Kilani’s performance earned her the Best Actress Award at the 36th Carthage Film Festival. She has spoken about the emotional weight of the role, emphasizing the importance of the real audio of Hind’s voice and the humanity of the story. In 2026, she starred as Leila (one of the leading roles) in Chronicles from the Siege, directed by Abdallah Al-Khatib. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), where it won the GWFF Best First Feature Award. Critics, including Screen International, praised the energy of the performances and specifically highlighted Kilani. Other credits include short films such as In Her Shoes (2023), Mademoiselle Amour (2024), and Is It Still Me (2026), as well as voice work and a crew role as a translator on Baq’a: The Open Valley (2023). Kilani has quickly established herself as a compelling presence in Arab and international cinema focused on socially resonant stories.

PERSONAL LIFE

Kilani maintains a relatively private personal life. She is known for her advocacy work, particularly around Palestinian stories and self-acceptance (including a feature with the Dear Vitiligo Project in Vogue Arabia). She is also a spoken-word poet who performs original pieces live and has shared work on streaming platforms (debuting with the poem “TATA”). She has delivered a TEDx talk titled “The Mark That Made Me Fearless.” In 2025, she was named to the Canadian Arab Institute’s “30 Under 30” list for her contributions to arts and culture in the Arab diaspora. She has been featured in fashion and cultural publications including Vogue Arabia, Elle, Marie Claire, and Grazia.

Saja Kilani is recognized as a rising talent who combines formal training, personal heritage, and advocacy in her work. She continues to balance acting with spoken-word poetry and public engagement on issues of representation and justice.