Tunisian filmmaker known for award-winning international features
Venice has announced its lineup with new titles and a slate that mirrors Cannes in its mix of international cinema and documentaries. TIFF has revealed more than 60 films for its gala and special presentations, signaling its role as a key market ahead of the fall awards race. The two festivals showcase a mix of traditional studio projects and bold indie filmmaking.
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.
Venice Film Festival winners have spotlighted gender disparity in cinema. May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown has won Golden Lion; Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love takes Silver Lion; Ilya Khrzhanovsky’s DAU wins best director. Gaza documentary NAZA earns a special jury prize. The festival continues to face questions about female representation in major competitions.
A surge of runway shows and campaigns in Paris, Milan and Dubai highlights how brands are leaning into luxury heritage and performance, even as the industry faces a soft market. Designers are unveiling new creative directors and collections that mix traditional craftsmanship with modern spectacle, underscoring a shift toward tangible, wearable luxury.
Palestinian and Arab cinema figures back a Gaza Cinema Academy unveiled in Venice to train young Palestinian filmmakers, especially women, and to connect Gaza’s stories with global audiences. The project aims to build a sustainable education and production hub in Gaza, with a nine-month diploma already underway and plans for accreditation and partnerships.
NAZA, an 80‑minute documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has premiered at the Venice Film Festival, won a special jury prize and prompted sustained criticism from Israeli officials. The film presents anonymous testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence personnel alleging AI‑assisted targeting and frequent civilian deaths in Gaza; Israel’s defence establishment has rejected the claims and ordered inquiries.