“NAZA,” a blistering look at the systems the Israeli government has used to kill Palestinians, was too controversial for prominent indie studios to pick up. That hasn’t stopped “NAZA” from connecting with arthouse audiences now that the self-distributed documentary has opened in theaters. Over two weeks of release, “NAZA” will cross the $500,000 mark, an impressive accomplishment for any nonfiction film, especially one about such a hot-button, politically charged topic.
“NAZA” premiered at New York’s IFC Center last weekend, where it went on to earn more than $125,000 over its first eight days. It then expanded to 85 theaters in 30 cities across North America, earning another $298,240 over the three-day weekend and an estimated $378,200 over the four-day holiday. By Monday, its domestic haul is expected to stand at $504,074. The film’s distribution is being led by producers The Guardian and mk2. They have said it will begin streaming for free on The Guardian’s website beginning in November.
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“NAZA” comes from the “No Other Land” team of Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, and contains interviews with anonymous IDF sources who detail how AI and phone surveillance have been used to identify targets in Gaza and how the country’s strikes have caused the mass killings of Palestinian civilians. The film electrified audiences at Venice, where it received a 25-minute ovation and won the Special Jury Prize. Critics also widely embraced the movie, which is seen as a top contender at the Oscars.
Officials in Israel have condemned the film. IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir pledged to use “every tool at our disposal” to halt its release, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested he will strip the people interviewed in the film of their Israeli citizenship. Israel’s culture minister accused Szor and Abraham of “treason” and suggested their citizenship could be revoked.
“No Other Land,” which examines Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, was also self-distributed. It went on to win the Oscar for Best Documentary.