Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary “NAZA” has made a significant impact at the Venice Film Festival by receiving a 24.5-minute standing ovation during its world premiere. The film focuses on Israel’s alleged utilization of AI-based military technology to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Video footage from the event captured the emotional reaction of the Israeli filmmakers, with Abraham visibly moved to tears as the audience enthusiastically responded to the film. This ovation broke records at the Venice Film Festival, surpassing the previous record of 24 minutes for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and the 22-minute applause for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
The director of “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” Kaouther Ben Hania, and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha were also present during the ovation. Attendees unfurled Palestinian and Lebanese flags as a symbol of solidarity. Shot clandestinely over three years in Tel Aviv, “NAZA” features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities are concealed. The film alleges the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to target Hamas operatives, even if civilians, including women and children, are present.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have vehemently denied the film’s allegations, stating that decisions to strike targets are solely made by humans and emphasizing efforts to minimize harm to civilians. “NAZA” is named after an acronym used by the Israeli military to refer to civilian casualties and serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous documentary, “No Other Land,” which won an Academy Award in 2025.
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has stirred controversy due to its portrayal of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a statement, Glazer expressed his stance against the occupation and its impact on innocent lives. The film sheds light on the ongoing violence in Gaza, where civilians continue to suffer casualties. Abraham emphasized the systematic nature of the conflict depicted in the film, stressing the importance of sharing insider perspectives to convey the reality of the situation.
In recent years, the Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in numerous casualties, with thousands of Palestinians losing their lives, including many women and children. The film’s portrayal of these events aims to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis and the devastating impact on civilian populations in Gaza.
