A new documentary titled NAZA, produced by the Guardian and directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is set to debut in cinemas across more than 50 countries. After premiering at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 25-minute standing ovation—a festival record—and won a special jury prize, the film will have its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on Saturday. A theatrical release in New York City is planned for October 5, with a broader rollout in Los Angeles and other major U.S. cities on October 9. A global theatrical release, in partnership with MK2 Films, will follow in 55 other territories, including the UK, Australia, and Japan, among others. After its cinema run, the film will be available for free streaming on the Guardian’s website. The documentary delves into the systems and decision-making processes behind Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of many Palestinian civilians. The title NAZA is an acronym used by Israeli intelligence to denote the number of civilians expected to be killed in a given airstrike. Filmed at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, the documentary includes interviews with 24 anonymous members of Israeli intelligence and military personnel. It builds on investigative journalism from the Guardian, +972 Magazine, and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, published between 2023 and 2025. Jonathan Glazer, the Oscar-winning director of The Zone of Interest and Under the Skin, has executive produced the film alongside James Wilson of JW Films. Abraham and Szor previously won the best documentary Oscar in 2024 for No Other Land, which they co-directed with Palestinian filmmakers Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal. The film received widespread acclaim at its premiere, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several senior military and far-right political figures have condemned it, calling for the directors’ citizenship to be revoked and accusing them of "treason against the state." Netanyahu has proposed new legislation that would allow the government to strip citizenship from individuals who "smear" Israeli soldiers or "defame" the state. Dozens of right-wing activists protested outside Szor’s parents’ home, with police present to ensure safety. Some protesters called for the "death penalty for traitors" and demanded the destruction of the directors’ families’ homes. Abraham and Szor have stated that they made the film out of a sense of responsibility to examine the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians for which Israel is responsible. They have said that threats from the Israeli government will not prevent the film’s release. They have thanked their colleagues for their support and expressed excitement about sharing NAZA with a global audience. In response to the controversy, 43 human rights organizations issued a joint statement urging Israeli authorities to stop what they called incitement and threats against the filmmakers and to refrain from prosecuting them or their sources. More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers signed a petition defending freedom of expression and expressing solidarity with Szor and Abraham. International filmmakers such as Ken Loach, Joshua Oppenheimer, and Laura Poitras have also voiced support, with Oppenheimer describing the Israeli government’s actions as a "full-scale intimidation campaign against film directors."