Venice selects NAZA as sole documentary in competition

What's happened

Venice Film Festival names NAZA, by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, as the festival’s only documentary in competition. The film, shot at night from Tel Aviv rooftops, examines what the filmmakers describe as Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It builds on reporting by +972, Local Call and The Guardian, with production by The Guardian and JW Films and executive producing by Jonathan Glazer. The festival runs 2–12 September.

What's behind the headline?

Context and stakes

• The film arrives amid renewed international scrutiny of Israel’s Gaza operation and broader debates over media portrayal of the conflict.
• The Guardian describes NAZA as detailing ‘the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,’ a framing that aligns with the documentary’s investigative pedigree.
• The editors expect audience reception to reflect preexisting tensions around documentary ethics and geopolitical accountability.

What this signals for Venice

• NAZA’s inclusion as the sole documentary in competition highlights a move to foreground documentary storytelling in a high-stakes festival context.
• The collaboration with Guardian-branded production and participation of Glazer as executive producer suggests cross-media influence shaping the film’s reception.

Implications for viewers

• Viewers should anticipate a documentary that leans into investigative reporting and night-shot aesthetics to examine military operations. The film’s claims will likely intensify discussions about civilian harm and accountability in Gaza.

How we got here

NAZA is from the Oscar-winning duo behind No Other Land and marks a recurring collaboration with Guardian-backed producers. The film’s title refers to a Hebrew acronym used by Israeli intelligence to indicate collateral damage. The Venice lineup has placed the film in intense competitive company as world attention remains fixed on Gaza and Israel’s war.

Our analysis

The Guardian: production notes and festival placement; Times of Israel: festival coverage; New Arab: background on NAZA’s subject matter and competition status; AP News: distribution of press material; Independent: synopsis and context; Venice festival announcements.

Go deeper

• What will be the festival’s verdict on NAZA’s claims?
• How does NAZA compare with other Venice documentaries on Gaza?
• What further reporting does NAZA rely on from +972 and Local Call?

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