During the world premiere of Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary “NAZA” at the Venice Film Festival, the film received an unprecedented 24.5-minute ovation. The documentary delves into Israel’s purported utilization of AI-assisted military technologies to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The filmmakers were visibly moved, with Abraham seen wiping away tears as the audience erupted in applause.
Notably, this ovation exceeded previous records set at the festival, surpassing the nearly 24-minute standing ovation for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and the 22-minute ovation for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Director Kaouther Ben Hania and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha of “The Voice of Hind Rajab” were present during the event.
The film, clandestinely shot in Tel Aviv over three years, features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities are concealed. These insiders detail the alleged use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to target Hamas members, even if civilian families, including women and children, are present.
In response to the documentary, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement refuting the claims, emphasizing that decisions to strike are human-made and aimed at military targets while minimizing harm to civilians. “NAZA,” named after a military acronym for civilian casualties, serves as a companion piece to the filmmakers’ previous award-winning documentary, “No Other Land.”
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has stirred controversy, much like his previous works. Glazer faced backlash for his remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict during his 2024 Oscar acceptance speech. The film sheds light on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, shedding light on the systemic nature of the situation and presenting insider testimonies to showcase the reality of civilian casualties.