NAZA passes $500,000 domestically in second weekend of self-distributed release
NAZA, a self-distributed documentary examining Israel's military operations in Gaza, has passed $500,000 in domestic ticket sales.
Domestic means the United States and Canada. Projections reported on 12 October put its four-day weekend at $378,250 and its total at $504,074 by Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The numbers are estimates ahead of Monday's actuals.
The film expanded to 85 locations in 30 cities across North America in its second weekend. That followed a debut the prior week at the IFC Center in New York City. Self-distributed means the film-makers are handling the release without a major studio distributor.
The four-day figure averaged $4,450 per screen. A per-screen average divides total takings by the number of cinemas. The rollout in the United States is being handled independently with support from The Guardian and MK2.
NAZA was directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Both were credited as directors on No Other Land, the 2024 film that won the Oscar for best documentary feature. Abraham and Szor are Israeli journalists.
It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received an ovation reported to have lasted more than 20 minutes. It won the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, according to La Biennale di Venezia. The Biennale's listing identified the film as a British production.
The film was also shortlisted for the 39th European Film Awards. It holds 100 per cent critics approval on Rotten Tomatoes, as reported on 12 October.
NAZA presents accounts from Israeli whistleblowers about the civilian toll in Gaza. It alleges that mass civilian deaths were routinely built into targeting decisions, according to Reuters.
The Israeli military published a multi-page statement in response to the film. The Israel Defense Forces criticised NAZA as a "distorted, misleading and disingenuous picture of the IDF's target planning and striking process."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the film "shocking incitement" on 14 September, according to Reuters. The Israeli-American Council organised a protest on Friday outside the Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood where the film was screening. The group also organised protesters during its premiere at the New York Film Festival in September.
