New Gaza Documentary Selected
Venice Film Festival Adds Gaza Documentary Naza to Official Competition Lineup
Key Points
Naza's addition expands Venice's Competition lineup to 21 films.
James Wilson of JW Films produced Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice Of Hind Rajab, which won the Venice Grand Jury Prize last year, and Jonathan Glazer previously collaborated with Wilson on The Zone of Interest.
No Other Land’s record includes winning the Berlinale Panorama Audience Award in 2024, followed by the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2025.
Naza is among ten debut directors in Venice's Competition this year, with nine other directors competing across 21 films.
The Venice screening is scheduled for Sept 10 at 5:15 p.m. in the Sala Grande and will be attended by the directors, producers, Guardian journalists, and the official delegation.
The Venice Film Festival has added Reuters, a new documentary by Oscar-winning directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, to its main competition lineup. The film, shot on Tel Aviv rooftops, examines Israel's killing of civilians in Gaza and marks the second consecutive year Venice has featured a work about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in its Golden Lion competition.
The documentary is produced by The Guardian with filmmaker James Wilson and executive-produced by Jonathan Glazer, who previously worked with Wilson on the acclaimed film The Zone of Interest. The film will screen on September 10 at the Sala Grande, expanding Venice's competition lineup to 21 films.
Oscar-Winning Directors Return to Venice
Abraham and Szor previously directed No Other Land, which won the Berlin Film Festival's audience award in 2024 and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025. Their addition to Venice marks a major coup for the festival, bringing acclaimed filmmakers with a proven track record to the competition.
Szor becomes only the second female director in Venice's competition lineup this year, alongside May el-Toukhy. The inclusion highlights ongoing questions about gender representation in major film festival competitions.
Behind-the-Scenes Creative Team
Producer James Wilson previously worked on The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, which won the Venice Grand Jury Prize last year. Wilson's involvement connects Naza to Venice's recent history of award-winning documentary work on global conflicts.
Executive producer Jonathan Glazer brings star power to the project. Glazer's previous collaboration with Wilson on The Zone of Interest, a film about Nazi leaders, suggests a pattern of partnering on serious, historically significant documentaries.
Documentary Filmmaking on Gaza Expands
Naza's addition to Venice reflects growing international interest in documentary work about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Reuters reports this marks the second straight year that Venice has featured major work on Gaza in its main competition.
The festival will host the directors, producers, and journalists from The Guardian at the September 10 screening. This delegation of talent signals Venice's commitment to platforming important documentary voices examining global crises.
Notable Debuts Shape This Year's Competition
Naza is one of ten debut features in Venice's 21-film competition lineup. This year's festival prioritizes first-time directors alongside established filmmakers, creating space for fresh perspectives on major world events.
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