The Venice Film Festival has announced the inclusion of Naza, a documentary addressing civilian deaths in Gaza, in its competition program. Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who previously co-directed the Oscar-winning film No Other Land, the film examines what producers describe as systematic actions resulting in civilian casualties. The documentary draws from investigative reporting published between 2023 and 2025 by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian. Production involved The Guardian, producer James Wilson of JW Films, Placeholder Films, and Unseen Hand, with Jonathan Glazer serving as an executive producer. Glazer previously produced the Oscar-winning film The Zone of Interest.
According to the filmmakers, the title references military terminology employed by Israeli intelligence. The documentary will premiere at the festival on Sept. 10 and represents the sole feature documentary selected for competition this year. This selection continues a pattern of Gaza-related films appearing at Venice, following last year’s world premiere of The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. That film received significant audience recognition with a 22-minute standing ovation and won the Silver Lion Grand Jury award.
Beyond Naza, the festival will showcase additional documentaries examining the regional situation. Ahmed Hassouna’s Citizen Osama profiles a photojournalist working in Gaza, while Muayad Alayan’s Conversation with the Sea follows a Palestinian navigating Israeli administrative processes. Israeli director Amos Gitai’s Road to Jericho documents Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin settlement facing potential displacement. The 83rd Venice International Film Festival will run from Sept. 2-12.
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