Published: 11:02 AM, 13 September 2026
Gaza documentary 'NAZA' sets Venice record with 24.5-minute ovation
A new documentary on Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza has broken the record for the longest standing ovation in Venice Film Festival history, drawing 24.5 minutes of applause at its premiere on Thursday, reports Variety.
"NAZA," directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, surpasses last year's record of 22 minutes set by "The Voice of Hind Rajab" -- and is believed to be the longest ovation ever recorded at a major film festival.
The film features interviews with 24 Israeli military intelligence officers and soldiers, and examines what its directors describe as the systems behind Israel's mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
It was shot in secrecy at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv over three years, according to Variety.
The title refers to an acronym used by Israeli intelligence to indicate the number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike -- effectively a collateral damage calculation.
Abraham and Szor looked visibly moved during the ovation, with some audience members holding up Palestinian flags.
Oscar-winning "Zone of Interest" director Jonathan Glazer, an executive producer on the film, embraced the pair and cheered them on throughout the applause.
The two directors previously co-directed "No Other Land," which won the best documentary Oscar at the 2025 Academy Awards, states Variety.
That film depicted the Israeli government's efforts to displace Palestinians from the southern West Bank.
"NAZA" is produced by British newspaper The Guardian and James Wilson, and is the only documentary feature in this year's Venice competition lineup.
