The Venice Film Festival has included a new documentary examining the civilian impact of the Israel-Hamas war in its main competition lineup. "NAZA," co-directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, will vie for the Golden Lion award. These directors were also part of the team behind the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land."
The synopsis for "NAZA" indicates the film was shot at night on Tel Aviv rooftops and centers on the killings of Palestinian civilians. The documentary is a collaboration between The Guardian and the producers of "The Zone of Interest." It is the sole documentary competing for the festival's top prize.
Abraham and Szor were among the four directors of "No Other Land," which documented Palestinian activists resisting military demolition of their communities. This prior film, a four-year project completed shortly before the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, was a collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers. "NAZA" draws upon reporting from 2023 to 2025 published by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian.
The ongoing conflict was also a prominent theme at last year's festival, marked by pro-Palestinian protests and films addressing the war's impact, such as Kaouther Ben Hania’s "The Voice of Hind Rajab." Ben Hania, who directed the film about a 6-year-old girl killed while fleeing Gaza City, is a member of this year's jury, which is led by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The festival is scheduled to begin on September 2, with awards announced on September 12.
Previously, the Venice Biennale contemporary art exhibition faced controversy when its jury resigned. This action was a protest against the participation of Israel and Russia. In a separate instance earlier this year, the Israeli pavilion exhibit at the Venice Biennale remained closed until a ceasefire in Gaza was achieved, according to the artist and curators representing Israel.