The Guardian-produced documentary NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has been awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The film, shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, exposes the systems behind Israel's calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Recognition at Venice
The Special Jury Prize is one of the festival's top honors, placing NAZA among the most distinguished films of the year. The documentary was produced by the Guardian and James Wilson (JW Films), with Jonathan Glazer serving as executive producer. Wilson and Glazer are the Oscar-winning team behind The Zone of Interest.
Lindsay Poulton, the Guardian's head of documentaries and one of NAZA's producers, said: “We are delighted that the Venice Film Festival jury has recognised NAZA with the Special Jury Prize – a testament to the power of cinematic storytelling grounded in fearless, independent journalism. We are proud to collaborate with these brave and talented directors, and like them we hope this film will bring renewed attention to what is happening in Gaza.”
Directors' Background
Yuval Abraham is a filmmaker and investigative journalist, while Rachel Szor is a filmmaker and cinematographer. Together, they are two of the four co-directors of the 2024 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. Their new work continues their focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this time examining the mechanisms of violence in Gaza.
The film's production team includes producers Harry Davies, Lindsay Poulton, and James Wilson. Executive producers for the Guardian are Paul Lewis and Nicole Jackson, with additional executive producers Joseph Schull, Harriet Gugenheim, and Wendy vanden Heuvel. Ekaterina Ochagavia and Noa Yachot serve as co-producers.
Global Release Plans
Nicole Jackson, the Guardian's head of multimedia and one of NAZA's executive producers, said: “We have already seen a huge response to the film, and we look forward to NAZA's global theatrical release to be announced soon, alongside Rachel and Yuval and our global distribution partner MK2.”
MK2 is NAZA's global sales and distribution agent. The announcement of the theatrical release is expected to follow the film's Venice success, with further details to be confirmed.
The Guardian's documentary unit has a track record of award-winning work, including an Oscar in 2021 for Colette and a 2022 BAFTA Film Award for The Black Cop. NAZA adds to this legacy, bringing urgent contemporary stories to a global audience through fearless, independent journalism.
