Cinema VinesAt the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, the Israeli documentary NAZA drew an unprecedented 25‑minute standing ovation from the audience, eclipsing the 23‑minute applause that greeted last year’s The Voice of Hind Rajab. The film, directed by Oscar‑winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, chronicles alleged mass killings of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, drawing on testimonies from twenty‑four Israeli military insiders, including intelligence officers and soldiers. The footage, shot covertly over three years on Tel Aviv rooftops, obscures the identities of its subjects through digital voice and appearance alterations.
During the red‑carpet arrival for the premiere on Thursday, spectators shouted “Free Palestine!” and “Free Israel!” as the directors made their way to the auditorium. After the screening, the crowd clapped relentlessly, a response that critics say demonstrates the film’s powerful impact on festival attendees and reviewers alike. AFP noted that while ovation lengths can be manipulated, they remain a key metric for gauging audience reaction at major film festivals.
Abraham explained at the Venice press conference that the filmmakers simply asked the soldiers and officers to describe their actions in detail. “We just told these officers and soldiers, please describe to us what you did. Of course, there were other questions that arose, but the principal question was a question of detail – sketch it for us, we want to know how it worked. And sometimes just asking the question, you get answers,” he said.
The title NAZA refers to an Israeli military acronym that shorthand for civilian casualties, encompassing men, women, and children. The documentary builds on investigative reporting published between 2023 and 2025 by Israeli‑Palestinian outlets such as 972 Magazine, the Hebrew‑language Local Call, and The Guardian. Szor highlighted the importance of presenting information that had already been reported, underscoring the film’s role as a documentary witness.
With the 25‑minute ovation, NAZA is seen as a frontrunner for Venice’s top prize. The festival’s history shows that strong audience reactions often correlate with award success, though last year’s The Voice of Hind Rajab only secured the second prize amid a split jury. The current buzz around NAZA suggests that the film’s provocative content and raw testimony have struck a chord with both viewers and critics alike.
