NAZA Sets Self-Distributed US Cinema Release After Venice Prize

The documentary NAZA will begin its United States cinema release on 30 September, opening exclusively at the IFC Center in New York City, Variety reported. It is a self-distributed launch. The film has not been sold to a studio or independent distributor for its American release.

The release is being organised by The Guardian and mk2, the French sales and distribution company. It will expand to Los Angeles and other markets on 9 October, then continue across the country. In the usual system, a distributor buys the rights and books cinemas and marketing. Here, the production side is handling that work directly.

NAZA is directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who are Israeli journalists, Reuters reported. The pair previously directed No Other Land, which won the Academy Award for best documentary feature. NAZA is produced by The Guardian and James Wilson of JW Films, with film-maker Jonathan Glazer as executive producer.

The title refers to a military acronym used by Israeli intelligence for the number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike. The film is built around testimony from 24 insiders who helped target homes in Gaza remotely, The Guardian reported. It documents the Israeli military's use of secret AI-powered targeting systems, according to Democracy Now. The documentary alleges that mass civilian deaths were routinely built into targeting decisions in Gaza, Reuters reported.

Festival play came first. NAZA won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. Its North American premiere — meaning its first public screening in the United States or Canada — is set for 26 September at the New York Film Festival, four days before the cinema opening.

The film has drawn a strong response in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described NAZA as "shocking incitement". He later stepped up criticism directed at its directors, Reuters reported.

What makes this stand out is the release path. Prize-winners from major festivals often wait for a distributor to buy the film and then set dates. The NAZA team has set dates without that sale, starting with one screen in New York before widening. For audiences, this means the early run will be limited to New York, then Los Angeles and selected cities, before any wider national dates.