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  • mk2 Films Launches Sales on Venice Gaza Documentary ‘NAZA’

    mk2 Films Launches Sales on Venice Gaza Documentary ‘NAZA’

    mk2 Films Launches Sales on Venice Gaza Documentary NAZA

    Eight months after No Other Land made Oscar history, its co-directors are back with a new documentary from Gaza. NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has been added to the main competition at the 82nd Venice Film Festival—a rare slot for a documentary. mk2 Films, the Paris-based sales agent, is launching world sales ahead of the world premiere.

    A Late Addition to Venice’s Main Competition

    The 82nd Venice International Film Festival, running from August 27 to September 6, 2025, added NAZA to its competition line-up at the last minute. The film, a documentary on Gaza, joins a slate dominated by fiction features—a rarity for Venice, which historically favors auteur cinema. The late announcement suggests either a rushed post-production to capture the ongoing crisis or a strategic slot to maximize impact.

    The Filmmakers: From Oscar Win to Gaza

    Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, both Israeli journalists, previously co-directed No Other Land with Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal. That film, chronicling the demolition of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, won the Berlinale Documentary Film Award and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025. The film’s Oscar win was a political flashpoint, with debates over Israeli filmmakers documenting Palestinian suffering. Now, NAZA shifts focus to Gaza, continuing their documentation of life under occupation and conflict.

    mk2 Films: Continuing the Partnership

    mk2 Films handled sales for No Other Land in several territories, so the partnership with NAZA is a natural continuation. The company is known for prestige festival titles and strong European theatrical distribution. With the post-Oscar bump, NAZA‘s commercial ceiling is higher, and mk2 is likely targeting theatrical, streaming, and broadcast deals across multiple territories.

    What to Expect from NAZA

    While specific plot details remain under wraps, the film’s subject matter is Gaza. The challenge of making a documentary about an ongoing war is shaping narrative without an ending. Will NAZA employ personal testimony, observational verité, or archival footage? The filmmakers’ previous work combined intimate portraits with political context. How they adapt their style to the chaos of Gaza—where safety is a constant concern—will be a key question.

    The Political and Ethical Stakes

    The film arrives amid the Israel–Hamas war (October 2023–present), with Gaza’s humanitarian crisis dominating global headlines. The filmmakers have faced criticism from both sides: some Palestinian filmmakers question Israeli filmmakers telling their stories, while Israeli authorities have been hostile to their work. NAZA will likely reignite debates about representation, funding, and the role of Israeli filmmakers in documenting Palestinian suffering.

    The Venice Platform

    Venice has rarely placed documentaries in its main competition, though Sacro GRA won the Golden Lion in 2013. The festival’s embrace of NAZA signals a growing acceptance of documentary as a competitive art form. For mk2 Films, a Venice premiere offers global media attention and access to top-tier buyers. The film’s world premiere date and screening slot will be announced closer to the festival.

    NAZA is more than a follow-up to an Oscar winner—it is a test of how cinema can respond to an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. With Venice as its launchpad and mk2’s sales machinery behind it, the film is poised to be one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year. Whether it can transcend the political noise and reach audiences as a work of art remains to be seen.

    Summary

    • NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is a new documentary on Gaza, added late to the Venice 2025 main competition.
    • mk2 Films is handling world sales, continuing their partnership from No Other Land.
    • The film follows the Oscar-winning No Other Land and faces high expectations and political scrutiny.
    • Venice’s rare documentary competition slot signals growing acceptance of non-fiction in top-tier festivals.
    • Production details and world premiere date are yet to be confirmed.

    FAQ

    Q: Is NAZA a sequel to No Other Land?
    A: No, it’s a separate documentary focusing on Gaza, not a continuation of the West Bank story.

    Q: Why is a documentary in Venice’s main competition?
    A: Venice rarely includes documentaries, but NAZA‘s topical urgency and the filmmakers’ pedigree likely earned it a slot.

    Q: Who are the directors?
    A: Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, Israeli journalists who co-directed No Other Land.

    Q: What is the film’s subject?
    A: Gaza, but specific plot details are undisclosed; it will document life under conflict.

    Q: When and where will it premiere?
    A: The world premiere is expected at Venice 2025 (August 27–September 6), but the exact date is unconfirmed.

  • MK2 Films Acquires ‘NAZA,’ New Documentary from ‘No Other Land’ Directors, Ahead of Venice Competition Premiere

    MK2 Films Acquires ‘NAZA,’ New Documentary from ‘No Other Land’ Directors, Ahead of Venice Competition Premiere

    mk2 Films Launches Sales on Venice Gaza Documentary NAZA

    MK2 Films has acquired worldwide rights to “NAZA,” the new documentary from Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the co-directors of the Oscar-winning “No Other Land.” The film has been added to the competition lineup of the Venice Film Festival, with its world premiere set for the festival later this year.

    The acquisition, announced just ahead of the festival, marks a significant move for MK2 Films, which previously handled sales for “No Other Land” in select territories. “NAZA” is described as a follow-up work from the duo, shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, and reportedly examines the systems behind Israel’s calculated military and surveillance apparatus.

    The announcement positions “NAZA” as one of the most politically charged films of the upcoming festival season, building on the controversy and acclaim that surrounded “No Other Land.” The film’s late addition to the Venice competition suggests strong festival interest and potential awards momentum.

    A High-Profile Follow-Up

    “NAZA” marks the second collaboration between Abraham and Szor, who previously worked together on “No Other Land” — with Szor serving as cinematographer and Abraham as co-director. That film, co-directed with Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in March 2025. It depicted the forced displacement of the Palestinian community in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, and sparked intense debate in Israel and internationally.

    The new project, still under a working title, is described as a separate work that continues the directors’ focus on Israeli policies and their human costs. The night-time rooftop setting suggests a visual approach that may employ surveillance-like aesthetics, potentially offering a voyeuristic perspective on Tel Aviv and the systems operating within Israeli society.

    Venice Competition Slot

    The Venice Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious, added “NAZA” to its competition lineup in a late announcement on a Monday, just ahead of the festival’s opening. Competition slots are highly coveted, and documentaries are relatively rare in this category, signaling the festival’s confidence in the film’s artistic and political relevance.

    MK2 Films, a major French sales company, will handle worldwide sales. The acquisition is a strategic bet on the film’s festival performance and awards potential, following the success of “No Other Land,” which faced distribution hurdles in the U.S. before being released by a coalition of independent distributors.

    Political and Artistic Stakes

    The film’s subject matter is likely to reignite debates about Israeli accountability, surveillance, and the occupation. Abraham, an Israeli journalist, has faced criticism from officials for his outspoken views, including his Oscar acceptance speech calling for a ceasefire and equal rights. Szor, an Israeli cinematographer, brings a visual sensibility that may prioritize observational techniques over traditional interviews.

    The title “NAZA” remains enigmatic, with no official explanation yet. It could be a Hebrew or Arabic term, an acronym, or a proper name, but its meaning is unconfirmed.

    Distribution and Reception Ahead

    While the acquisition and festival premiere confirm the film’s entry into the global festival circuit, its release date and distribution plans are yet to be announced. Given the political climate, “NAZA” may face similar challenges in Israel and the U.S. as its predecessor, but the Venice platform provides a high-profile launch for international sales and critical attention.

    As “NAZA” prepares to premiere in Venice, the film carries the weight of its directors’ previous work and the ongoing debates it fueled. With MK2 Films backing the project, the documentary is poised to become a major talking point at the festival, and its reception will likely shape its journey through the awards season and beyond.

    Summary

    • MK2 Films acquires worldwide rights to “NAZA,” the new documentary from Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, directors of “No Other Land.”
    • The film has been added to the Venice Film Festival competition lineup, premiering later this year.
    • “NAZA” is shot at night on Tel Aviv rooftops and reportedly examines Israel’s military and surveillance systems.
    • The acquisition follows the Oscar-winning success and controversy of “No Other Land.”
    • The film’s release date and distribution strategy are yet to be announced.

    FAQ

    Q: What is “NAZA” about?
    A: “NAZA” is a documentary from Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor that reportedly shows the systems behind Israel’s calculated military and surveillance operations. It was shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv.

    Q: Who are the directors of “NAZA”?
    A: The directors are Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who previously co-directed the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” (with Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal).

    Q: When will “NAZA” premiere?
    A: The film has been added to the competition lineup of the Venice Film Festival, with its world premiere expected during the festival, which typically runs in late August to early September.

    Q: Who is distributing “NAZA”?
    A: MK2 Films, a French sales company, has acquired worldwide rights to the film and will handle international sales.

    Q: Is “NAZA” a sequel to “No Other Land”?
    A: No, “NAZA” is a separate work, though it shares thematic concerns with the directors’ previous film. It is not a sequel.