Award-Winning Documentary NAZA Secures New Partners for Wider Release

Film company Neon is joining forces with The Guardian, MK2, James Wilson, and Jonathan Glazer to expand the reach of the award-winning documentary "NAZA". The film first launched independently in the United States on September 30 across 85 theaters in 30 cities, earning more than $700,000 at the box office. Outside the United States, the movie already holds theatrical distribution deals in over 50 countries.

Film Details

Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, "NAZA" was the only documentary playing in competition at the Venice Film Festival. The film features secret nighttime conversations on the rooftops of Tel Aviv with individuals who designed and operated systems behind Israel's mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The title stands for an acronym of the Hebrew phrase "nezek agavi", which translates to collateral damage.

Awards And Production

The documentary premiered in Venice to a record-breaking 25-minute standing ovation and won the Special Jury Prize. It later earned the Audience Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and the Critics Prize at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, while also receiving three Critics Choice documentary award nominations. The project is produced by The Guardian and James Wilson's JW Films, along with Placeholder Films and Unseen Hand, with Jonathan Glazer serving as executive producer.

Context

Independent documentaries often rely on partnerships with larger distribution companies and media organizations to secure wider theatrical releases and reach global audiences after successful festival runs. Films that tackle heavy political subjects and combat zones typically build their momentum through international film festivals before rolling out to commercial theaters.

What Happens Next

Neon and its new partners will work to bring the documentary to much wider audiences following its initial independent run and festival success.