NAZA Documentary Launches Global Theatrical Run Amid Israeli Citizenship Threats

Key points

• NAZA will screen in theaters across 56 territories starting September 28, with a North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on September 26 and a US theatrical opening on September 30.
• The film, produced by The Guardian and mk2 Films, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and was shot on Tel Aviv rooftops to expose Israeli military targeting practices in Gaza.
• Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Culture Minister Miki Zohar, have threatened to revoke the citizenship of the directors and proposed legislation to increase defamation damages, citing the film as an act of slander.
• The International Documentary Association and over 1,500 Israeli film professionals have condemned the threats, calling them a violation of freedom of expression and journalistic integrity.
• The Guardian plans to make NAZA available for free to global audiences via its website in late November, following the theatrical run.

Background

NAZA builds on investigative reporting published between 2023 and 2025 by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call, which examined Israel's AI-driven targeting and surveillance systems in Gaza. The directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, previously co-directed the 2024 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2026, where it received a record-breaking standing ovation.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and mk2 Films emphasize the film's global reach and its foundation in rigorous journalism, highlighting the widespread international interest and the commitment to free access. The Forward frames the backlash as a reflection of a societal inability to confront the realities of the war, arguing that the threats against the directors are part of the same narrative system the film exposes. The International Documentary Association focuses on the legal and ethical implications of the government's actions, stressing that the threats violate international human rights standards and the right to protect journalistic sources. While The Guardian notes the film's distribution in Israel, it also mentions efforts to make it accessible in the occupied Palestinian territories, a detail not emphasized by the other sources.

Why it matters

The release of NAZA highlights the growing tension between freedom of expression and state power in the context of the Gaza conflict. The government's response to the film, including threats to revoke citizenship and increase defamation damages, raises significant concerns about the chilling effect on journalism and artistic expression. The international support for the directors underscores the global importance of independent reporting and the role of documentary film in holding power to account.

What to watch

The film will continue its global theatrical rollout, expanding to Los Angeles and other key markets in October. The Guardian will make NAZA available for free online in late November. The Israeli government's proposed legislation and the ongoing public campaign against the directors will likely remain a focal point of debate, with potential legal and political repercussions for the filmmakers and the broader media landscape.