Gaza Documentary NAZA Makes World Premiere at Venice Film Festival

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has completed its Competition lineup with NAZA, a Gaza documentary that has become the only documentary among the 21 films competing for this year’s Golden Lion. The film, directed by Israeli filmmakers Abraham and Szor, will unveil the film at its world premiere on September 10 at Venice’s Sala Grande.

The Gaza documentary focuses on the human cost of the war in Gaza, particularly the impact on Palestinian civilians. As per the description of festival’s officials, NAZA was imaged at night from rooftops in Tel Aviv. The film observes the systems and resolutions behind airstrikes and explores what the filmmakers describe as the intended killing of civilians.

The documentary draws on investigative carried out by +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian between 2023 and 2025. The reports allow the film to explore the wider military system and its consequences for Gaza’s civilian population.

Abraham and Szor were among the four directors behind No Other Land, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025. That film focused on the destruction of Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank and followed local activists fighting against displacement.

The Gaza documentary is produced by The Guardian and British producer James Wilson of JW Films, with Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan Glazer serving as executive producer. Wilson and Glazer previously worked together on The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, which won the Grand Jury Prize at last year’s Venice Film Festival.

The title NAZA refers to a military acronym reportedly used by Israeli intelligence in connection with expected civilian casualties from airstrikes. The project continues Abraham and Szor’s focus on conflict, occupation and the human impact of military violence.

The 2026 Venice Film Festival will run from September 2 to September 12, with the Golden Lion winner announced on the closing day. NAZA will premiere on September 10.