Protest outside New York Film Festival premiere of Gaza documentary 'NAZA'
More than 50 demonstrators gathered outside Alice Tully Hall on Saturday afternoon as the Gaza war documentary NAZA held its New York Film Festival premiere inside, according to Variety. The demonstration was organised by the Israeli-American Council. The screening went ahead inside.
The Council described NAZA as an “anti-Israel” film, Variety reported. It said the film makes serious allegations about the conduct of the IDF, the Israel Defense Forces, in Gaza while ignoring contradicting findings and information. It also said the film fails to present the full context of the October 7 attack that led to the war.
Outside the venue, the protest was highly visible. Mobile LED trucks projected graphic footage from October 7 and portraits of those killed that day. Demonstrators carried signs reading “LEARN THE FACTS. KNOW THE TRUTH.” More than a dozen police officers were on watch outside the hall.
Two speakers addressed the crowd. Noa Peri-Jensch, chief communities officer of the Israeli-American Council, spoke at the protest. She introduced Rom El-Hai, a survivor of the Oct. 7 attack on the Nova music festival, who then spoke.
NAZA is co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Film at Lincoln Center announced on August 25 that it had been added to the Main Slate, the central selection, of the 64th New York Film Festival, according to Film at Lincoln Center. The film recently won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The documentary has already drawn sharp criticism from Israeli officials, according to i24NEWS. A trailer appeared on YouTube ahead of its New York premiere. Co-director Yuval Abraham also offered Israeli cinemas the chance to screen the film, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Its release plan is wide. NAZA is set to open in more than 50 territories before streaming for free on The Guardian’s website. It will be available online in November, according to Al Jazeera.
The 64th New York Film Festival runs from September 25 through October 12, 2026. It is produced by Film at Lincoln Center and takes place at Film at Lincoln Center and across New York City.
For audiences, this means the festival premiere will not be the last public test for the film. A cinema rollout and a free online release will follow.
