A Record-Breaking Premiere in Venice
The documentary NAZA earned a 24.5-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday. This reception marks the longest recorded standing ovation in the history of the festival, surpassing the previous record of 22 minutes set by The Voice of Hind Rajab one year prior. The film, which explores the mechanics of military operations in Gaza, was a last-minute addition to the competition lineup. It represents the only documentary feature in this year's official Venice selection.
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor attended the premiere, visibly moved by the crowd's response. Jonathan Glazer, the director of The Zone of Interest and an executive producer on NAZA, joined the pair at the event, leading the applause. Several members of the audience displayed Palestinian flags during the extended reaction. The production process took three years, and the filmmakers noted that the film’s late entry to the festival schedule resulted from the time required to complete the project.
Investigative Scope and Production Origins
NAZA focuses on the internal procedures of the Israeli military. The film features interviews with 24 current or former military intelligence officers and soldiers who describe the tactical systems used during airstrikes in Gaza. The title refers to a specific acronym used by military intelligence to categorize expected civilian casualties resulting from strikes. The filmmakers conducted interviews and gathered footage under strict security measures, often working on rooftops in Tel Aviv at night to avoid detection.
Abraham and Szor previously co-directed the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. That project detailed the displacement of residents in the southern West Bank. With NAZA, the pair sought to leverage their access within Israeli society to examine the broader military system. Abraham described the intent as an attempt to investigate the mechanics of the conflict through the perspective of those tasked with its execution. The film is produced by The Guardian and James Wilson of JW Films.
Industry Context and Festival Impact
Venice is scheduled to conclude its proceedings on Saturday, with the jury led by Maggie Gyllenhaal tasked with announcing the final award winners. The inclusion of NAZA highlights the ongoing presence of high-profile political documentaries within the festival circuit. Last year’s record-holder, The Voice of Hind Rajab, focused on the death of a young girl in Gaza, indicating a pattern of films addressing the current regional conflict receiving significant attention at this specific venue.
Film festivals serve as platforms for documenting events as they happen, often bringing raw, first-hand accounts to international audiences. The response to NAZA suggests a strong interest among festival attendees in projects that attempt to clarify the internal logic of complex military operations. As the festival comes to a close, observers are watching to see how the jury weighs this film against the broader field of feature competition entries. The attention surrounding this documentary reflects the capacity of film to keep critical humanitarian issues in the public eye during periods of extreme instability.