A documentary about Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by The Guardian, will receive its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 10, 2026. Titled NAZA, the film is the only documentary competing for the Golden Lion award and claims to expose the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,
according to festival synopses.
The documentary, produced by The Guardian and James Wilson, with Jonathan Glazer as executive producer, marks the return of Abraham and Szor to the Venice Film Festival. The two Israeli directors were part of the team behind No Other Land, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025. NAZA is described as shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv
and focuses on the calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians,
according to the festival’s official synopsis.
A Film Born From Investigative Reporting
NAZA builds on investigative reporting conducted between 2023 and 2025 by Israeli-Palestinian publication +972, Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, and The Guardian. The film’s production team includes Wilson and Glazer, who previously collaborated on The Zone of Interest, the 2023 Holocaust drama that won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. The Guardian’s involvement underscores the project’s journalistic roots, with the outlet noting that “NAZA” is an Israeli military acronym used to euphemistically indicate the number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike.
The film’s release coincides with heightened global attention on the Gaza conflict, which has claimed over 73,000 Palestinian lives since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023. Palestinian health authorities do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their casualty counts, while Israeli authorities assert their operations targeted Hamas and aimed to minimize civilian harm. The film’s inclusion in Venice’s main competition highlights the festival’s continued focus on politically charged narratives, following last year’s premiere of The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film about a 6-year-old girl killed in Israeli fire.
A Controversial Lineup and a Divided Reception
The Venice Film Festival’s decision to add NAZA to its lineup has sparked debate. The film’s directors, Abraham and Szor, faced backlash in 2024 after accusing the Israeli government of “apartheid” at the Berlinale, leading to accusations of anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, the film’s focus on civilian casualties aligns with broader international criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, though Israeli officials have consistently denied targeting civilians.
Israeli authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the death of the Gazan girl featured in The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film that earned a 23-minute standing ovation at last year’s festival. This context underscores the political weight of NAZA as it prepares for its premiere. The film will screen in Sala Grande, the Palazzo del Cinema’s main venue, on September 10 at 17:15, with the directors, producers, and Guardian journalists in attendance.
A Festival of Polarizing Art
Venice’s 2026 lineup includes a mix of high-profile films and politically charged works. Alongside NAZA, the competition features projects by Martin McDonagh, Danny Boyle, and Werner Herzog.
The festival’s political sensitivity is further highlighted by its 2024 controversy, when the Israeli and Russian pavilions faced protests and closures over Gaza. This year’s event arrives amid ongoing debates about the role of art in addressing war and human rights. NAZA’s presence in the Golden Lion competition signals its potential to provoke discussion, much like No Other Land, which faced accusations of bias but was celebrated for its unflinching portrayal of Palestinian displacement.
What Comes Next for the Film?
As NAZA prepares for its premiere, its reception will likely mirror the polarized discourse surrounding the Gaza conflict. The film’s producers have not yet commented on potential awards or critical responses, but its inclusion in Venice’s main competition positions it as a contender for the Golden Lion. The festival’s jury, led by Maggie Gyllenhaal, will announce winners on September 12, with NAZA vying for one of the most prestigious honors in world cinema.
For audiences, the film offers a visceral look at the human toll of the conflict, framed through the lens of investigative journalism and documentary filmmaking. Whether it will shift public perception or deepen existing divides remains to be seen. What is clear is that NAZA has already secured its place as one of the most anticipated and contentious entries in this year’s festival.
