New Documentary 'NAZA' About Gaza Civilian Deaths Sets Venice Film Festival Record

The new documentary "NAZA," by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, received a record-breaking 24.5-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday. This surpasses the previous record of 22 minutes set last year and is believed to be the longest ovation ever at a major international film festival. The film, which Abraham and Shore describe as an examination of the "systems behind the calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israel," was produced under challenging conditions, including secret nighttime filming and exterior shots from Tel Aviv rooftops.

"NAZA" features interviews with 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers who served in the recent Gaza conflict. Its content is also based on investigations published by Israeli outlets "+972 Magazine" and "Local Call," as well as reports in The Guardian. The film's title, "NAZA," is an Israeli military acronym for "collateral damage," referring to the estimated number of uninvolved civilians expected to be killed in a specific airstrike.

Jonathan Glazer, the Oscar-winning British director of "The Zone of Interest," served as an executive producer for "NAZA." He was seen embracing Abraham and Shore during the extended applause. The Israeli directors appeared emotional, with tears visible during the ovation, as did many audience members. Some attendees waved Palestinian flags.

The film was added to the Venice competition lineup late, only after its final edit was completed. Abraham and Shore previously directed the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," which documented Israeli efforts to displace Palestinians in the West Bank. "NAZA" is the only feature-length documentary selected for this year's official competition at Venice and will also screen at the San Sebastian Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.

Abraham stated in an interview prior to the premiere that as Israelis, they felt compelled to use their unique access to people within their society who served in the military to examine what human rights organizations are calling genocide.