The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has added a new documentary titled “NAZA” to its main competition lineup. Directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who were part of the team behind the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” the film is set to have its world premiere on September 10. It will compete for the festival’s top honor, the Golden Lion, and is the only documentary featured among the 21 films in competition this year.
“NAZA” was filmed primarily at night on rooftops in Tel Aviv and focuses on Palestinian civilian casualties during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The documentary draws from investigative reports published between 2023 and 2025 by outlets including +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian. The film’s title refers to a Hebrew military acronym for "collateral damage," reflecting its exploration of civilian deaths linked to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
Abraham and Szor previously co-directed “No Other Land,” which documented the struggle of Palestinian activists in Masafer Yatta against demolitions by the Israeli military. This film, produced in collaboration with Palestinian filmmakers, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025 and sparked debate within Israel, with some officials criticizing it for lacking certain context and facts.
In addition to “NAZA,” Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai will present “The Road to Jericho” in the festival’s Venice Open - Out of Competition section. The film examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of the Oslo process and the situation of the Bedouin community in Khan al-Ahmar.
The festival opens on September 2, with winners to be announced on September 12. “NAZA” will be screened in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema in the presence of the directors, producers, journalists, and an official delegation.
The context of the film reflects the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where, according to figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 73,400 Palestinians have died since the conflict escalated in October 2023, despite an official ceasefire declared in October 2025. Reports of casualties continue, with local health officials citing deaths from Israeli strikes as recently as August 24. The Gaza health system remains severely strained by the conflict’s toll, compounded by displacement, shortages of food and medical supplies, and restricted access to essential services.
While the ceasefire has reduced large-scale hostilities, sporadic violence persists, and diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting resolution and humanitarian relief continue. The inclusion of “NAZA” in the Venice Film Festival’s main competition highlights the enduring international attention on the human impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the complex narratives surrounding it.