‘NAZA’ Plans Surprise US Release

“NAZA,” a film that made a surprise debut at this year's Venice Film Festival, has announced its U.S. theatrical release. Tickets for the movie are now available online through Atom and Fandango at select Alamo Drafthouse locations in Los Angeles and New York. Starting in early October, the film will be available for viewing at limited theaters across the country.

Directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, “NAZA” features interviews with 24 anonymous IDF sources who detail the killing of Palestinian civilians. The documentary's controversial subject matter has sparked heated debate, with both pro-Palestinian activists and Israeli officials criticizing the film. Despite the controversy, the film received critical acclaim, with a reported 26-minute standing ovation at its Venice premiere.

The film's distribution is being handled without a publicly disclosed partner, following a similar self-distribution model used by the directors for their previous film, “No Other Land,” which won Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards. Israeli co-producers The Guardian and director Jonathan Glazer of “The Zone of Interest” are attached as executive producers.

The announcement of “NAZA’s” U.S. release comes just over a week after its Venice premiere, which drew a massive audience and widespread attention. However, no major studio has committed to distributing the film, likely due to the political sensitivity surrounding the subject matter. The film's controversial nature has drawn criticism from both sides of the Middle Eastern conflict, leading to protests, death threats, and calls for the filmmakers to lose their citizenship.

While some distributors have indicated that “NAZA” is on their radar, none have yet made a firm commitment to acquire the rights for U.S. release. “NAZA” is set to open in limited theaters on October 9, providing audiences with an opportunity to view this provocative and thought-provoking documentary.