Despite being deemed too controversial for major indie studios to acquire, ‘NAZA’ has resonated strongly with arthouse audiences following its self-distributed theatrical launch. In just over two weeks, the documentary has surpassed the $500,000 box office milestone—a notable achievement for any nonfiction film, particularly one tackling such a politically charged subject.
The film opened at New York City’s IFC Center, grossing over $125,000 in its first eight days. It subsequently expanded to 85 theaters across 30 North American cities, taking an additional $298,240 during the three-day weekend and an estimated $378,200 over the four-day holiday. Domestic totals are projected to reach $504,074 by Monday. Distribution is being handled by The Guardian and mk2, who announced the film will stream freely on The Guardian’s website starting in November.
‘NAZA’ was produced by the ‘No Other Land’ team of Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, featuring interviews with anonymous IDF sources who describe the role of AI and phone surveillance in target identification and the resulting civilian casualties in Gaza. The documentary premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it earned a 25-minute ovation and the Special Jury Prize. Critics have widely praised the film, positioning it as a leading Oscar contender.
The film has drawn sharp condemnation from Israeli officials. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir vowed to employ ‘every tool at our disposal’ to block its release, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested he could revoke the Israeli citizenship of those interviewed. Israel’s culture minister labeled the filmmakers’ actions ‘treason’ and floated the possibility of stripping their citizenship as well.
‘No Other Land,’ a separate documentary from the same team examining Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, also employed self-distribution and ultimately won the Oscar for Best Documentary.
