The Guardian and French distributor mk2 Films will give NAZA a global theatrical release beginning September 28, before making the documentary available free worldwide on the newspaper's website after its cinema run, in a move that underscores both the film's international momentum and the political controversy surrounding it.
The documentary, directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won the Venice Special Jury Prize after premiering at the Venice Film Festival on September 10, where it drew a 25-minute standing ovation. Since then, it has continued its festival journey with screenings in Bologna and San Sebastián, and is set for its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on September 26. It will open at New York's IFC Center on September 30 before expanding to Los Angeles and other US markets from October 9.
The wider theatrical rollout will span 56 territories, including markets across Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Turkey, Central America and the Middle East. The Guardian said the film has secured theatrical distributors in those territories since its Venice debut, reflecting unusually strong international demand for a documentary rooted in investigative journalism and geopolitical urgency.
After the theatrical window closes, The Guardian plans to release NAZA globally and free of charge on theguardian.com, framing the move as part of its commitment to independent journalism and broad public access. The newspaper has also offered the film to distributors and cinemas in Israel, while saying it is exploring "other ways" for the documentary to be seen in the occupied Palestinian territories, though it did not specify what those methods might be.
That question of access is especially sensitive given the film's subject matter and the political reaction it has provoked. Shot largely at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, NAZA features interviews with 24 members of Israel's military and intelligence establishment who spoke on condition of anonymity. The documentary builds on reporting published by The Guardian, +972 Magazine and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call between 2023 and 2025, including investigations into Israel's AI-driven targeting practices in Gaza.
The film has become a flashpoint in Israel since its Venice premiere. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have called for Abraham and Szor's citizenship to be revoked. More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers have signed a petition backing the directors and defending freedom of expression, while 43 Israeli human rights organisations have issued a statement urging authorities to halt what they described as threats and incitement against the filmmakers.
Abraham and Szor have said the pressure will not deter them or limit the film's reach. "The threats from the Israeli government to revoke our citizenship and the death threats do not change that and will not stop the film," they said.
Harry Davies, The Guardian investigations correspondent and one of the film's producers, said NAZA was grounded in three years of investigative reporting while also being designed as a feature documentary for audiences beyond the newspaper's readership. Jonathan Glazer serves as executive producer, with James Wilson of JW Films also producing alongside The Guardian.
The release strategy gives NAZA an unusually wide platform: first through cinemas across multiple continents, then through a free digital release intended to extend its audience far beyond the festival circuit. For The Guardian, the plan reflects a familiar editorial instinct — to pair reporting with public access — but in this case it also places the film at the intersection of journalism, cinema and a deeply polarised political conflict.
The effort to make the documentary available in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories adds another layer of complexity. In a region where distribution, censorship and political pressure often shape what audiences can see, the film's eventual path may prove as significant as the story it tells. For now, NAZA is moving from festival acclaim to a global release that is likely to keep it in the centre of public debate well beyond its theatrical run.