Full Breakdown
NAZA Documentary Joins Venice Competition
8/25/2026, 1:45:57 AM
Core Event – Venice Adds “NAZA” to Competition
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has placed the documentary NAZA in its main competition. The film will premiere on September 10 in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema, with directors, producers, and Guardian journalists in attendance. NAZA is the sole documentary among 21 competing titles and will contend for the Golden Lion at the closing ceremony on September 12.
Background & Context
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor previously co-directed the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land (2025). Building on investigative reporting by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian, NAZA focuses on the civilian toll of the Israel-Hamas war that escalated after the October 7 2023 Hamas attack. Palestinian health authorities report more than 73,000 deaths in Gaza, while Israeli tallies record roughly 1,200 Israeli fatalities.
Key Figures & Groups
- Yuval Abraham – co-director of NAZA.
- Rachel Szor – co-director of NAZA.
- The Guardian – producer through its documentary division.
- James Wilson – British producer (JW Films), two-time BAFTA winner.
- Jonathan Glazer – executive producer, Oscar-winning director of *The Zone of Interest*.
- +972 Magazine and Local Call – sources of the investigative material.
Timeline
- August 24 – NAZA’s addition announced.
- September 10 – NAZA screens in competition.
- September 12 – Golden Lion award ceremony.
Data & Statistics
- 21 films compete; 1 is a documentary.
- The competition includes 10 first-time competitors, among them Abraham and Szor.
- Reporting period for source material: 2023-2025.
- Gaza death tolls: >73,000 (Palestinian health authorities) versus ?1,200 Israeli fatalities.
Official Statements & Responses
The festival’s synopsis describes the film as: “Shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, the film reveals in detail the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, the film reveals in detail the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” — The Guardian
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Casualty figures differ: Palestinian authorities cite >73,000 Gaza deaths without separating civilians from fighters, while Israeli tallies note ?1,200 Israeli deaths. The documentary’s specific investigative findings have not been disclosed, leaving a gap in public knowledge about the “systems” examined.
What’s Next
The Golden Lion will be awarded on September 12, determining whether NAZA secures the festival’s top honor. As the only documentary in competition, NAZA will attract heightened attention from critics, scholars, and audiences interested in the intersection of cinema and the ongoing Gaza conflict.
