Global Theatrical and Digital Release Announced for NAZA

The acclaimed documentary NAZA is scheduled for theatrical distribution in cinemas across more than 50 countries, followed by a free digital global release on the Guardian’s website in late November, according to euronews.com. Directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film premiered earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a festival-record 25-minute standing ovation and was awarded the Special Jury Prize.

The theatrical rollout includes a planned release in Los Angeles and other key US cities on October 9 before expanding nationally. A partnership with MK2 Films will also bring the documentary to 55 other territories, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, France, Spain, Germany, Central America, and the Middle East. Distributors and cinemas in Israel have also been offered the film, and producers are exploring ways for audiences in the occupied Palestinian territories to view it.

Production Background and Subject Matter

Shot in secrecy at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv during the ongoing Gaza war, NAZA features interviews with 24 Israeli military intelligence officers, soldiers, and whistleblowers. Harry Davies, a Guardian investigations correspondent and one of the film’s producers, stated that the documentary is grounded in rigorous journalism published over the past three years by the Guardian, +972 Magazine, an Israeli-Palestinian publication, and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call between 2023 and 2025.

According to its official synopsis cited by euronews.com, the film examines the systems behind the calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Executive produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan Glazer alongside producer James Wilson, NAZA follows Abraham and Szor’s 2024 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which focused on Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.

Political Backlash and Official Condemnation in Israel

The film’s premiere has sparked a political storm in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the directors in a video posted on Telegram, accusing them of contributing to global antisemitic incitement and portraying the Israel Defense Forces as war criminals. Culture Minister Miki Zohar called the documentary vile and announced plans to immediately revoke the citizenship of Abraham and Szor, equating criticism of Israeli military actions to antisemitism. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also labeled the directors an embarrassment and told them to leave the country.

Venice-winning Gaza documentary 'NAZA' set for European release — Photo: euronews.com

Netanyahu’s public attacks have been interpreted as a reflection of concern over the film’s potential impact on upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for October 27. Alongside these political statements, Netanyahu and other senior military and far-right figures called for the directors’ citizenship to be revoked over alleged treason against the state.

Solidarity Petitions and International Support

In response to the political fallout, 43 local human rights organizations issued a joint statement urging Israeli authorities to halt incitement and threats against the filmmakers and to avoid prosecuting them or their sources. More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers signed a petition defending freedom of expression and creation while expressing solidarity with Szor and Abraham against an unprecedented campaign of vilification.

Global Theatrical and Digital Release Announced for NAZA — Photo: The New Yorker

International figures have also voiced support. Berlin Film Festival director Tricia Tuttle stated that artists must remain free to critically examine the world. US director Joshua Oppenheimer condemned the Israeli government’s actions as a full-scale intimidation campaign, while other prominent filmmakers—including Ken Loach, Paul Laverty, Laura Poitras, Nan Goldin, Richard Eyre, and Hanif Kureishi—echoed those sentiments.