Scandalous film NAZA conquers US box office
The documentary film "NAZA" by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor has grossed over $504,000 in North American box office in less than two weeks. The film, which focuses on the IDF's targeting mechanisms in Gaza, has sparked a political scandal in Israel: Prime Minister Netanyahu demanded an investigation into the creators, suspecting a breach of state secrets. The army rejected accusations of genocide, calling the role of AI distorted.
The documentary film "NAZA," created by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is showing commercial success in North American box office. In less than two weeks of independent screening, the film's box office revenue surpassed the half-million dollar mark, reaching approximately $504,000. In the second weekend alone, the film brought in $298,240 for its creators. Due to intense controversy over its content, no major Hollywood distributor agreed to take on the project, so the authors launched an independent release. Starting at the New York Film Festival, the film expanded to 85 theaters in about 30 American cities, where screenings are regularly sold out. At the center of the plot is an analysis of Israeli intelligence operations and the mechanisms for selecting targets for strikes in the Gaza Strip. The film's title refers to the Hebrew term meaning "collateral damage." The film is based on anonymous testimonies from 24 people, presented by the authors as active IDF soldiers and intelligence personnel. The creators openly accuse the Israeli military of actions they qualify as genocide. Alongside its triumph abroad, the film has sparked a political scandal at home. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the Chief of Staff, the Shin Bet director, and the government's legal advisor initiate an official investigation into all those involved in the film's creation. The IDF leadership categorically rejected the accusations, emphasizing that the process of approving military targets is exclusively within human competence and that the role of AI is distorted. Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir instructed the Military Advocate General to study the legal mechanisms for response and to verify the facts of a possible leak of classified data.