Gaza Documentary ‘NAZA’ Receives Record Venice Ovation

Gaza war documentary “NAZA” received a record 24-and-a-half-minute standing ovation after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday, in what organisers described as the longest reception in the festival’s history.

Directed by Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the documentary premiered in the main competition. The filmmakers and several others in the theatre became visibly emotional as audiences stood and applauded, with some spectators waving Palestinian flags.

Oscar-winning director Jonathan Glazer, an executive producer of the film, was also present and embraced Abraham and Szor after the screening.

“NAZA” examines Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the systems behind civilian deaths. Its title refers to a Hebrew military term or acronym that the filmmakers say is used by Israeli intelligence agencies to identify potential civilian casualties, or “collateral damage”, from airstrikes.

The film was secretly shot over three years from rooftops across Tel Aviv. It features interviews with 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers and explores how military decisions are made and civilian casualties are assessed.

Abraham said the filmmakers, as Israeli citizens, used their access to former military personnel to examine what they described as a system that human rights organisations have called genocidal.

A joint production of The Guardian and JW Films, “NAZA” was added to Venice’s main competition after the initial lineup had been announced, following the completion of the film. It is the only documentary in this year’s competition.

The previous Venice record was held by Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, which received a 22-minute standing ovation last year. Ben Hania, whose film depicts the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza, is serving on this year’s main competition jury.

The winners of the Venice Film Festival will be announced on Saturday.