The 83rd Venice International Film Festival is set to feature a highly anticipated documentary with a strong humanitarian and political dimension as “NAZA” joins the official competition lineup for 2026. 🎬
Directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film will compete for the prestigious Golden Lion, becoming the only documentary among the 21 films selected for the main competition.
The filmmakers previously worked on the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” making their return to the international festival circuit particularly significant.
🎥 “NAZA” and its focus on Gaza
“NAZA” is an approximately 80-minute documentary examining the mechanisms behind Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and their impact on Palestinian civilians.
The film was largely shot at night from rooftops in Tel Aviv, using a distinctive visual approach to explore events taking place in Gaza from a distance while examining the systems and information surrounding military operations.
Its inclusion in Venice comes as the war in Gaza continues to receive considerable attention across international cinema and cultural institutions.
⭐ When will “NAZA” premiere?
The documentary is scheduled to have its world premiere on September 10, 2026, at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema on Venice’s Lido.
The screening will take place during the festival, which runs from September 2 to September 12, 2026, bringing together major international filmmakers, actors, critics and industry professionals.
🏆 The only documentary in the main competition
One of the most notable aspects of “NAZA” is its position as the only documentary among the 21 films competing in the Venezia 83 competition.
The lineup includes filmmakers from different countries and cinematic traditions, making the presence of a documentary dealing directly with Gaza particularly significant.
Rather than appearing in a separate documentary section, “NAZA” will compete directly for the festival’s major awards.
🎬 From “No Other Land” to “NAZA”
For Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the new film represents another major step in their documentary filmmaking careers.
They were part of the directing team behind “No Other Land,” the internationally acclaimed documentary that won an Academy Award.
While that film focused on Palestinian communities and displacement in the occupied West Bank, “NAZA” turns its attention toward Gaza and the consequences of the ongoing war.
The two projects therefore share an interest in documenting the human consequences of conflict while approaching different geographic and political contexts.
🔎 Investigative filmmaking
“NAZA” also reflects the growing role of investigative journalism in contemporary documentary cinema.
The film builds on investigative material concerning Israeli military strikes and civilian casualties, transforming extensive reporting and research into a cinematic narrative.
This approach allows documentary filmmaking to move beyond the fast-paced nature of daily news coverage, giving audiences more time to examine events, evidence and their wider human consequences.
🇵🇸 Gaza on the international cinematic stage
The selection of “NAZA” adds another major Gaza-related work to the international festival landscape.
Its inclusion in the main competition gives the subject a prominent platform before an international audience of filmmakers, critics, journalists and cinema enthusiasts.
The film will therefore be viewed not simply as a documentary about a current conflict, but as a work competing alongside major international productions for one of cinema’s most prestigious awards. 🏆
🎞️ Danny Boyle’s “Ink” opens Venice
The 2026 festival will open on September 2 with the world premiere of “Ink,” directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle.
Starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, the film will also compete in the official competition.
Its selection as the opening film highlights the festival’s broad international lineup, which combines major filmmakers with independent productions and films exploring contemporary social and political issues.
👩⚖️ Maggie Gyllenhaal leads the jury
The international competition jury will be chaired by American actress and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal.
She will be joined by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, British composer Daniel Blumberg, Italian academic Francesco Casetti, French filmmaker Xavier Giannoli, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat and Hong Kong director Johnnie To.
Ben Hania’s presence is particularly notable given her position as one of the prominent Arab voices in contemporary international cinema.
🌍 Why “NAZA” is attracting attention
Several elements make “NAZA” one of the notable titles of Venice 2026: its focus on Gaza, its Israeli directors, its connection to the Oscar-winning “No Other Land,” and its place in the festival’s main competition.
The documentary is expected to generate discussion about the role of cinema in documenting war, examining civilian suffering and transforming complex political events into stories that can reach international audiences.
Ultimately, “NAZA” demonstrates once again how documentary cinema can turn major global events into powerful cinematic testimony. 🎥✨
