Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s documentary NAZA, which examines the mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, received a reported 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere at the 2026 Venice Film Festival on Thursday.

According to AFP, the audience applauded continuously for the directing duo following the screening, with the response believed to be a record for the festival. The ovation surpassed the 23-minute response to last year’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, a docu-drama about the killing of a five-year-old Palestinian girl by Israeli forces.

Earlier, as Abraham and Szor made their way to the auditorium, onlookers on the red carpet shouted “Free Palestine!” and “Free Israel!”

The film is being considered a frontrunner for the festival’s top prize. The Voice of Hind Rajab was also considered a favourite last year following a strong response at Venice, but ultimately received the festival’s second prize.

The length of standing ovations has long been considered a measure of a film’s reception at major international film festivals. AFP noted that while such responses can be manipulated, they can also indicate the impact a film has on festival audiences and critics.

NAZA features accounts from 24 Israeli military insiders, including intelligence officers and soldiers, who provide insight into the war in Gaza and what they describe as the systemic killing of Palestinian civilians.

The documentary was filmed secretly on rooftops in Tel Aviv over three years. The identities of those featured have been obscured through digital alterations to their voices and appearances.

Speaking at a press conference in Venice on Thursday, Abraham said the filmmakers asked the military insiders to describe what they had done in detail.

“We just told these officers and soldiers, please describe to us what you did. Of course, there were other questions that arose, but the principal question was a question of detail, sketch it for us, we want to know how it worked. And sometimes just asking the question, you get answers,” he said.

The title NAZA refers to an Israeli military acronym used as shorthand for civilian casualties, including men, women and children.

The documentary builds on reporting published between 2023 and 2025 by Israeli-Palestinian 972 Magazine, the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call and The Guardian.

Szor also discussed the purpose of making a film based on information that had already been reported and published.