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‘NAZA,’ Israeli Military Doc from ‘No Other Land’ Directors, Sets Speedy Fall Release in U.S.
The documentary will open in U.S. theaters through a self-distribution plan after winning a special jury prize and drawing criticism in Israel.
Filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor will debut their documentary NAZA at the IFC Center in New York City on September 30, utilizing a self-distribution model spearheaded by The Guardian and mk2.
Featuring interviews with 24 anonymous IDF sources, the documentary examines systems behind "Israel's calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza." Specifically, "NAZA" is the military's term for civilians that may be killed as collateral damage.
Following a 25-minute standing ovation and a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, the film sparked intense backlash, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatening to revoke the filmmakers' citizenship over alleged defamation of soldiers.
Studios avoided the project due to its "political quagmire," prompting producers to bypass traditional distribution and manage release logistics independently to generate Oscar buzz later this season.
The documentary holds its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on September 26, then expands to Los Angeles on October 9 before a broader national rollout in subsequent weeks.
News, Politics and Government podcast hosted by Dan Senor
Lean Right
News, Politics and Government podcast hosted by Dan Senor
Naza: When a Film is the News
Call me Back - with Dan Senor discuss the NAZA documentary’s Venice ovation, its anonymous IDF testimonies on Gaza strikes, and the backlash that followed.