At the Venice Film Festival, Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor won a special jury prize for their documentary NAZA, which critiques Israel’s use of AI in targeting civilians in Gaza. The film, based on interviews with 24 whistleblowers from Israeli military and intelligence, received significant acclaim but missed out on the top Golden Lion award, which went to Danish director May el Toukhy's post-war drama "Woman Unknown." Abraham emphasized during his acceptance speech that Israelis should watch the documentary due to its relevance to their country’s actions.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-13,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, Israeli directors, won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival for their documentary "NAZA," which focuses on Israel's use of AI to target civilians in Gaza. The film received a record-breaking 25-minute standing ovation during its premiere but did not win the top Golden Lion award; that honor went to Danish filmmaker May el Toukhy’s drama Woman Unknown, with actress Mathilde Arcel also winning best actress for her role. During the awards ceremony, Abraham stated that Israel had killed six Palestinian children in Gaza over the past ten days and described these killings as systemic and designed to dehumanize Palestinians. The special jury prize recognizes an outstanding work but ranks below the Golden and Silver Lions.
Written for “Gaza Documentary Prize Venice” on 2026-09-14,
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A chilling new documentary about Israel’s AI-assisted killing of civilians in Gaza by two Israeli directors won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.
left describes Israel's actions as 'AI-assisted killing of civilians'
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The 80-minute film left many audience members stunned, with interviewees describing how they felt like they worked in a killing “factory” or a lethal video game while using Israel’s AI-powered targeting systems to bombard Gaza
left describes the use of AI-powered targeting systems as part of 'killing factory' operations
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It was described as an “urgent, gut-punch” by magazine Screen, while The Hollywood Reporter said it inspired “outrage… indignity as well. Most certainly disgust, on a profound level, for the current Israeli regime”
left quotes reviews that express outrage and disgust towards Israel's actions
Leaning score -0.65 for article 8580 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-13
A chilling new documentary about Israel’s AI-assisted killing of civilians in Gaza by two Israeli directors won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.
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documentary → assist → Saturday
NAZA, by Oscar-winning directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, had been tipped by some critics for the top Golden Lion prize for best film after a record-breaking 25-minute ovation at its premiere on Thursday.
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NAZA → win → Thursday
The top prize went to Danish filmmaker May el Toukhy’s post-war drama Woman Unknown, with its star Mathilde Arcel also taking best actress honours in a rare double victory.
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Arcel → go → victory
Receiving the award for the Gaza documentary, Abraham said over the 10 days since the festival began, “Israel killed six Palestinian children in Gaza”.
“The Israeli intelligence officers we spoke with talked to us how this mass killing is systemic: not by accident, but by design, actions of murder and policies that are based on the total dehumanisation of Palestinians,” he told the audience.
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he → receive → audience
The special jury prize is given out every year by the jury to recognise an outstanding work, but it is below the Golden and Silver Lions in the pecking order.
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it → give → order
Abraham and Szor used conversations with 24 Israeli military or intelligence whistleblowers who spoke on condition that their identities be protected.
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identities → use → condition
The 80-minute film left many audience members stunned, with interviewees describing how they felt like they worked in a killing “factory” or a lethal video game while using Israel’s AI-powered targeting systems to bombard Gaza.
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they → leave → Gaza
It was described as an “urgent, gut-punch” by magazine Screen, while The Hollywood Reporter said it inspired “outrage… indignity as well.
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it → describe → indignity
Abraham said it was “really, really, especially important for us that Israelis watch this film”.
“It’s our country that is doing these crimes,” he said.
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he → say → crimes
Woman Unknown wins top prize
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Unknown → win → prize
El Toukhy, who directed Woman Unknown, was the only woman directing a feature film in the main, 21-strong movie line-up, a disparity that drew criticism during the festival and prompted renewed scrutiny of the barriers facing women in cinema.
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that → direct → cinema
Set in the aftermath of World War Two, Woman Unknown follows a housemaid played by Arcel whose past relationship with a German soldier threatens to destroy her future.
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relationship → Set → future
The film unfolds against the backdrop of a newly liberated Denmark, where women accused of fraternising with occupying German forces were often subjected to vigilante justice.
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women → unfold → justice
And at the same time, the film tells the tale of women who are invisible, unseen, and voiceless,” El Toukhy said in her acceptance speech.
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Toukhy → tell → speech
Russian-born filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky won best director for DAU, an ambitious project shot largely in Ukraine before the ongoing war that has attracted intense scrutiny and controversy.
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that → bear → scrutiny
Khrzhanovsky, who has renounced his Russian citizenship and is a fierce critic of Moscow, dedicated his prize to Ukraine.
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who → renounce → Ukraine
Malkovich named best actor
John Malkovich was named best actor for his performance as an aging, maverick CIA agent in Martin McDonagh’s razor-sharp comedy Wild Horse Nine.
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Malkovich → name → comedy
“I am humbled to be chosen for this award which has been given to so many wonderful actors,” said Malkovich, speaking via a videolink from Canada.
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Malkovich → humble → Canada
The Venice festival marks the start of the awards season and regularly throws up big favourites for the Oscars.
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festival → mark → Oscars
However, many of the big studio-backed contenders that once crowded the Venice schedule were absent this year as Hollywood reconsiders how to market its movies and cut costs.
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Hollywood → back → costs
