Gaza killings documentary 'NAZA' vies for Venice Golden Lion

The documentary 'NAZA,' which examines the mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, has been selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The announcement was made by the festival organization in a statement on Monday.

Directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film is a follow-up to their Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land.' According to the festival's statement, the film was "shot at night from the rooftops of Tel Aviv" and "exposes in detail the systems behind the mass and calculated killing of Palestinian civilians by Israel in Gaza."

The project is produced by The Guardian and James Wilson (JW Films). British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer, director of the acclaimed 2023 film 'The Zone of Interest,' serves as an executive producer. The film will have its official screening on September 10 in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema.

The Venice International Film Festival is scheduled to run from September 2 to September 12, 2026. 'NAZA' is among 21 titles vying for the Golden Lion, including new works from renowned directors like Hirokazu Koreeda, Martin McDonagh, Werner Herzog, and Nanni Moretti. Several other filmmakers will also debut in the festival's main section.