NAZA Wins Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival 2026 2026

NAZA, a powerful new documentary directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by the Guardian, has been awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The film, shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, offers a detailed exposé of the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

About the Film and Its Creators

NAZA is directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, two of the four co-directors behind the 2024 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. The film is produced by the Guardian and James Wilson (JW Films), with executive production by Jonathan Glazer. Wilson and Glazer are the Oscar-winning team behind The Zone of Interest. This collaboration brings together acclaimed filmmakers and journalists to deliver a compelling narrative grounded in fearless, independent journalism.

Significance of the Venice Special Jury Prize

The Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival is a prestigious accolade that recognizes films pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. Winning this award places NAZA in the company of previous honorees that have gone on to achieve global critical and commercial success. The prize underscores the film’s artistic merit and its urgent political message.

Reactions from the Production Team

Lindsay Poulton, Guardian head of documentaries and one of NAZA’s producers, expressed delight: “We are delighted that the Venice Film Festival jury has recognised NAZA with the Special Jury Prize – a testament to the power of cinematic storytelling grounded in fearless, independent journalism. We are proud to collaborate with these brave and talented directors, and like them we hope this film will bring renewed attention to what is happening in Gaza.”

Nicole Jackson, Guardian head of multimedia and an executive producer, added: “We have already seen a huge response to the film, and we look forward to NAZA’s global theatrical release to be announced soon, alongside Rachel and Yuval and our global distribution partner MK2.”

Key Takeaways

• NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
• Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, known for the Oscar-winning No Other Land.
• Produced by the Guardian and James Wilson, executive produced by Jonathan Glazer.
• The film exposes systems behind Israel’s mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
• Global theatrical release to be announced soon with distribution partner MK2.

Comparison with Other Venice Film Festival Winners

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