NAZA documentary wins Venice prize amid
The award-winning documentary NAZA, exposing Israeli military systems behind civilian killings in Gaza, is set for global theatrical release and free
NAZA, the documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. It will be released in cinemas across 56 territories worldwide before streaming for free on The Guardian’s website in late November.
The film premiered in Venice on September 10, receiving a record 25-minute standing ovation. Theatrical screenings begin globally on September 28, with a U.S. Rollout starting September 30 at New York's IFC Center. The release is spearheaded by The Guardian and French sales company MK2 Films.
How the film was made and what it reveals
Shot in secrecy at night on Tel Aviv rooftops during the Gaza war, NAZA builds on years of investigative journalism first published by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call. It features interviews with 24 anonymous members of Israeli intelligence and military.
The documentary shows the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Its title, NAZA, is a military acronym for Nezek Agavi, a euphemism meaning collateral damage. To protect sources, all participants' faces and voices were digitally altered.
Backlash and threats from Israeli officials
Israeli leaders have launched a fierce campaign against the filmmakers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused them of treason and contributing to global antisemitic incitement. He said he would seek new laws to strip citizenship from people who defame the state.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar called the film vile and announced he would act immediately to revoke the directors' citizenship. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described them as a disgrace and told them to leave the country. Dozens of right-wing activists gathered outside Rachel Szor’s parents’ home, with one protester calling for the death penalty for traitors and the demolition of the filmmakers' families' homes. Police were deployed to the scene.
Solidarity from filmmakers and human rights groups
The backlash has prompted widespread solidarity. More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers signed a petition defending freedom of expression. Forty-three local human rights organisations issued a joint statement urging authorities to stop incitement and threats, warning the rhetoric was moving close to sanctioning violence.
Leading international filmmakers, including Ken Loach, Joshua Oppenheimer, and Laura Poitras, have echoed support. Tricia Tuttle, director of the Berlin Film Festival, stated the festival stands with Abraham and Szor, affirming that artists must be free to critically examine the world. Abraham and Szor, who won the Best Documentary Oscar in 2024 for No Other Land, said they made NAZA out of an obligation to examine systems for which their country is responsible, and that the threats will not stop the film.
Festival circuit and upcoming screenings
After Venice, NAZA screened at the Bologna and San Sebastián film festivals. Its North American premiere is scheduled for September 26 at the New York Film Festival. A wider U.S. Theatrical expansion to Los Angeles and other cities begins on October 9.
The film is produced by The Guardian in tandem with JW Films and executive produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. It has been offered to distributors in Israel. The Guardian will also explore ways to enable the film to be seen in the occupied Palestinian territories.
NAZA will be released in cinemas across 56 territories worldwide.
