The documentary Naza, which examines the Israeli military operations in Gaza, has won the Special Jury Award at the Venice Film Festival. Kawthar bin Haniya, the director and a member of the jury, praised this documentary during the press conference following the awards ceremony for documenting events that are still ongoing.
The Power of Narrative and the Courage of Artists
Bin Haniya continued, stating: "These two directors, despite the limitations of filming testimonies anonymously, found an astonishing way. This work not only depicts the emotions of individuals but also shows them as cogs in a larger machine. This is very necessary and important, especially at a time when we are talking about the denial of facts."
She also referred to the courage of the directors in filming living history, saying: "Genocide is still occurring. This is a bold act, and they have done it in a powerfully cinematic way."
The documentary Naza was honored at a ceremony where the Danish-Egyptian director, Mai Al-Touqi, received the Golden Lion for her work The Unknown Woman. This 80-minute film, produced by The Guardian and James Wilson, is based on three years of research and interviews with 24 Israeli military intelligence officers and soldiers. The documentary was secretly filmed at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, and the identities of the participants were concealed with digital alterations.
Yuval Abraham, one of the directors of this documentary, told reporters before its screening: "We let the soldiers and officers talk about the things they have done." The film also examines the use of artificial intelligence in target selection, and interviewees discuss operations that were carried out despite awareness of civilians being present in the area.
