Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary, “NAZA,” which explores Israel’s alleged use of AI-assisted military technology to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza, garnered a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation during its debut at the Venice Film Festival. Video footage shared on social media captured the emotional reaction of the Israeli filmmakers, with Abraham visibly moved to tears, as the audience celebrated the film based on the testimonies of 24 Israeli military insiders.
According to reports, this extended ovation sets a new record for Venice, surpassing the previous 24-minute acclaim for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” in the previous year and outdoing the 22-minute reception for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” at Cannes in 2006.
Notable figures present at the event included “The Voice of Hind Rajab” director Kaouther Ben Hania, a juror at this year’s festival, and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha. Some attendees unfurled Palestinian and Lebanese flags as a symbolic gesture as the lights came up, as seen in social media footage.
“NAZA” was clandestinely filmed over three years in Tel Aviv and features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities are concealed. The documentary alleges the use of advanced surveillance systems and AI intelligence to pinpoint and strike Hamas targets, even when civilian families, including women and children, are present.
In response to the film, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement refuting the allegations and emphasizing that decisions to strike targets are solely made by humans, with extensive efforts to minimize harm to civilians during military operations.
The film’s title, “NAZA,” is derived from an Israeli military acronym for civilian casualties and serves as a companion to Abraham and Szor’s previous award-winning documentary, “No Other Land.”
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has garnered attention due to its controversial subject matter. Glazer has faced backlash following previous statements criticizing the Israel-Hamas conflict. The documentary sheds light on the ongoing violence in Gaza, with Abraham emphasizing that the film exposes a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents, showcasing insider perspectives on the conflict.