The documentary NAZA opened at No 1 at the Italian box office, grossing approximately €1.1m by the end of Tuesday and beating rival titles including Avengers Endgame: Encore, which took €356,000 over the same period, according to box office figures reported in Italy. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by the Guardian, the 80-minute film examines Israel’s systemic mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza through the testimony of 24 anonymised Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers.
Box Office Performance and Cinema Extensions in Italy
Initially booked for a three-day run in Italy, NAZA secured the top spot at the box office after generating €451,872 on its opening Monday with a per-site average of €1,153. Following sold-out auditoriums and positive audience reactions, the release window has been extended across more than 150 cinemas in the country. Andrea Romeo, founder of the film’s Italian distributor I Wonder Pictures, told La Repubblica that screenings will continue as long as theatres demand them. At the Tibur cinema in Rome, staff member Marco described the audience reaction, stating that viewers watched in complete silence and nobody spoke even at the end of the screening.
Venice Film Festival Reception and Political Context
The documentary won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice film festival earlier this month, where its premiere earned a 25-minute ovation, marking a festival record. Simone Gialdini, president of cinema owners trade association Anec, told La Repubblica that the massive turnout reflects both the film’s political nature and a strong desire among activists to send a signal about the ongoing situation, while also drawing a diverse audience of all ages aware of the tragedy.
Investigative Origins and AI Surveillance Testimony
The project takes its name from an acronym used euphemistically by Israeli intelligence to indicate expected civilian casualties in an airstrike. Filmed in secret on rooftops in Tel Aviv, the documentary builds on reporting published between 2023 and 2025 by the Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call. It features accounts from 24 anonymised Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers detailing the AI-powered surveillance systems used to select their targets.
International Rollout and Filmmaker Statements
Following its Italian run, NAZA opens in New York on Wednesday ahead of a broader US release on 9 October, with plans to reach more than 50 territories before streaming freely on theguardian.com in mid-November. At the North American premiere on Saturday, directors Yuval Abraham and Szor addressed escalating threats from Israeli officials regarding potential citizenship revocation over the film. Szor told the audience during a post-screening Q&A that the state works extensively to hide these systems from the public, while Abraham stated that the crimes documented are ongoing due to state actions and international support and funding.
Who directed the documentary NAZA?
The 80-minute film was directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by the Guardian.
What does the title NAZA refer to?
The project takes its name from an acronym used euphemistically by Israeli intelligence to indicate how many civilian casualties are expected in a given airstrike.
Where can viewers watch NAZA after its theatrical run?
Following its theatrical release across more than 50 territories, the documentary will be made freely available to watch online at theguardian.com in mid-November.
What evidence does the film present?
The documentary features testimony from 24 anonymised Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers describing the AI-powered surveillance systems utilized for target selection in Gaza.
Worth a look