Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, with producer The Guardian, will make the documentary NAZA freely available online in November; the Israeli-American Council plans a rally and to show October 7 footage outside a New York screening.
NAZA’s co-director Yuval Abraham announced the film will be released free online in November after a global theatrical rollout curated with The Guardian.
The film debuted at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and is scheduled for theatrical releases across dozens of countries before streaming.
The Israeli-American Council (IAC) plans to hold a rally outside Lincoln Center during a New York screening and show October 7 footage to provide competing context.
# What happened
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, together with The Guardian as a producer, will make the documentary NAZA available to stream free online in November following its theatrical run. Abraham posted the announcement on X/Twitter, saying the decision responds to public interest and the film's public importance. They also offered Israeli cinemas the option to screen the film at no cost via The Guardian's website.
NAZA premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it won a prize. The documentary alleges that Israeli military operations caused systematic, calculated, mass civilian casualties in Gaza. It includes interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and has generated strong reactions inside and outside Israel.
# Planned theatrical and streaming rollout
The Guardian reported that NAZA will be released in theaters across 56 countries and will have a North American premiere scheduled at the New York Film Festival. The free online streaming date is set for November, after the global theatrical window concludes.
# IAC response and planned rally
The IAC framed its approach as adding context for viewers and described its presence as an effort to ensure October 7 is part of the narrative surrounding the film.
# Filmmakers' position
Yuval Abraham said recognizing atrocities in Gaza does not diminish the brutality of the October 7 attacks, which he stated are without justification and are discussed by soldiers in the film. He argued that ignoring Gaza was among factors that led to the October 7 attack and criticized calls to hide such material for the sake of public diplomacy abroad. Abraham wrote that hiding the truth harms Israeli society and allows harm to continue in Gaza.
# Official and institutional reactions
After difficulty obtaining a copy of NAZA, an Israel Defense Forces representative attended a screening in Bologna, Italy. Reporters said the IDF subsequently assembled a document cataloguing the documentary's claims and is considering possible responses. One military source told reporters the army does not plan to change strike policies, asserting its operations were precise.
# Why this matters
NAZA has prompted a contested public debate: filmmakers argue the film exposes alleged abuses and aims to reach a broad audience, while groups such as the IAC want theaters to present October 7 testimony alongside screenings. The IDF's review indicates the authorities are treating the film's claims seriously enough to consider a formal response.
# What to watch next
The documentary, based on testimonies from 24 Israeli soldiers, will stream free online in November. Its directors have offered Israeli cinemas the film free of charge
Co-director Yuval Abraham says documentary exposing Israeli abuses will be available online in November.
The investigative documentary NAZA, which caused a sensation at the Venice Film Festival but has been attacked by Israeli politicians including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will soon reach U.S. theaters. Filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and their team are pursuing a self-distribution model in the U.S. tha
The controversial documentary is moving ahead with a self-distribution strategy that will roll the film out across American cities beginning in October.
The documentary interviewing 24 Israeli intelligence officers is being self-distributed ahead of nationwide release.
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s Venice award winner will hit cinemas in 56 territories from Sept. 28.
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.