NAZA documentary breaks box office records in Italy

The documentary film NAZA, prepared by the British newspaper The Guardian and directed by Oscar winner Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, continues to be talked about in Italy, where it was released after receiving the "Special Jury Prize" at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 12, 2026.

According to daily data of Cinetel, which tracks cinema box office revenues in the country, 266 thousand 78 people watched "NAZA" between September 28 and October 1, and the documentary earned 1 million 995 thousand 949 euros.

"NAZA", which takes its name from the abbreviation used for "civilians expected to die in an attack", including men, women and children, during the Israeli army's attacks on Gaza, broke the box office record by ranking first among the most watched films this week after being released in more than 400 theaters across the country on September 28.

According to the news in the national press, some movie theaters extended the screening time of NAZA.

Award-winning documentary from the Venice Film Festival became a trending topic in Israel

The NAZA documentary, which documents Israel's civilian massacre in Gaza, was deemed worthy of the "Special Jury Prize" at the award ceremony of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, held in Italy this year, on September 12.

NAZA's award from Europe's most established film festival had a great impact in Israel.

Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir had instructed military intelligence, the military prosecutor's office and the Air Force to identify the soldiers speaking in the NAZA documentary by determining whether they were in compulsory service or reserve soldiers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the NAZA documentary was "anti-Semitic provocation" and while the debates about the NAZA documentary were ongoing, he announced that he would submit a bill to strip citizenship of those who "defame" Israeli soldiers.

On September 13, Israeli Minister of Culture Miki Zohar threatened to deprive the directors of the NAZA documentary, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, of their citizenship.