Israeli Film 'NAZA' Sets Venice Festival Record With 25-Minute Standing Ovation

The documentary film "NAZA" by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor achieved a historic 25-minute standing ovation following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The film, which screened in the competition program, reportedly exposes data on targeted strikes against civilians in the Gaza Strip, based on testimonies from Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers. The extended applause surpassed previous records at major film festivals, including those for "3000 Nights" and "Pan's Labyrinth." Producers James Wilson and Jonathan Glazer, who previously worked on the Oscar-winning "The Zone of Interest," were present at the premiere. As the lights came up, audience members displayed Palestinian flags. Festival director Alberto Barbera joined the applause and congratulated the filmmakers, though he noted that the official Palestinian flag could not be flown due to Italy's non-recognition of a Palestinian state.

"NAZA" is based on interviews with 24 Israeli officers and soldiers and details the use of artificial intelligence, surveillance, and a scoring system to select targets in Gaza. The film suggests that decisions to eliminate targets were made even when they were at home with their families. This project follows Abraham and Shor's previous work, "No Other Land," which won an Oscar for best documentary in 2025. The title "NAZA" is an Israeli military abbreviation for the acceptable number of civilian casualties during strike planning.

Yuval Abraham stated, "Our film shows that the basic target for Israeli systems is a residential building in the Gaza Strip. Every building and house has its number. The system is designed to find targets when they return to their families."