Gaza Doc 'Naza' Earns Record-Breaking Ovation at Venice Film Fest

A new documentary about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, titled 'Naza,' has made history at the Venice Film Festival. The film earned a staggering 24.5-minute standing ovation at its premiere on Thursday, marking the longest ever recorded at the prestigious event.

Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, also known for their Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' were visibly moved, growing teary-eyed during the applause. Adding to the powerful scene, audience members held up Palestinian flags in a show of solidarity and recognition.

'Naza' offers a stark look into Israeli airstrikes in the region.

It features compelling testimonies from 24 Israeli military intelligence officers and soldiers who detail the attitude towards civilian casualties. The film's title itself, 'Naza,' is an acronym used by Israeli intelligence to refer to "civilian collateral damage", the number of civilians killed or expected to be killed in an airstrike.

The documentary delves into the operational specifics, with subjects describing the surveillance systems and remote bombing involved in the Israeli military's actions. "We just told these officers and soldiers, please describe to us what you did," Abraham explained in a news conference. "And sometimes just asking the question, you get answers."

Szor emphasized the unique impact of the film:

It’s different to hear, actually, the people who designed and operated those systems talk about it in front of a camera, and sketch it, show it.

The film builds upon extensive reporting conducted between 2023 and 2025 by respected outlets such as the Israeli-Palestinian +972 Magazine, the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, and The Guardian.

#GazaConflict #VeniceFilmFestival #DocumentaryFilm #NazaFilm