Gaza AI Killing Documentary Wins Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor receive a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival for NAZA.
A documentary examining Israel’s use of artificial intelligence in military operations in Gaza won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.
NAZA, directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, had emerged as a contender for the festival’s top Golden Lion award. However, the documentary ultimately received the special jury honour after earning a 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere.
The Golden Lion went to Danish filmmaker May el-Toukhy for her post-war drama Woman Unknown. Meanwhile, its lead actress Mathilde Arcel won the Best Actress award.
Documentary Draws Attention to Gaza War
Accepting the award, Abraham spoke about the continuing civilian toll of the Gaza conflict. He said six Palestinian children had been killed by Israel during the 10 days since the festival began.
Abraham said Israeli intelligence officers interviewed for the documentary described the killings as systemic. According to him, the film examines policies that the interviewees said contributed to the dehumanisation of Palestinians.
The filmmakers interviewed 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers. To protect their identities, the sources spoke anonymously.
Film Examines AI-Assisted Targeting
The 80-minute documentary focuses on Israel’s AI-supported targeting systems and their use during military operations in Gaza.
According to the filmmakers, several interviewees compared their experiences to working in a killing factory or a lethal video game.
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The film received strong reactions from critics. For example, Screen magazine described it as an urgent and powerful documentary.
The Hollywood Reporter also praised its impact while highlighting the anger and disgust expressed by viewers.
Abraham said it was especially important for Israelis to watch the documentary. He added that the film examines actions carried out by his own country.
Woman Unknown Wins Golden Lion
Danish director May el-Toukhy won the festival’s top award for Woman Unknown. Notably, she was the only woman directing a feature film among the 21 films in the main competition.
The gender imbalance drew criticism during the festival. As a result, it renewed debate about the barriers women continue to face in the film industry.
Set after World War Two, Woman Unknown follows a housemaid played by Mathilde Arcel. Her past relationship with a German soldier threatens her future in a newly liberated Denmark.
The film also explores the treatment of women accused of having relationships with German soldiers during the occupation.
In her acceptance speech, el-Toukhy described the film as a story about women whose voices and experiences were often ignored.
Ilya Khrzhanovsky Wins Best Director
Russian-born filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky won the Best Director award for DAU. The ambitious project was filmed largely in Ukraine before the current war.
Khrzhanovsky has renounced his Russian citizenship and strongly criticised Moscow. During his acceptance, he dedicated the award to Ukraine.
John Malkovich Named Best Actor
American actor John Malkovich won the Best Actor award for his performance in Martin McDonagh’s comedy Wild Horse Nine.
Malkovich plays an ageing and unconventional CIA agent in the film. Speaking by video link from Canada, he said he was humbled to receive the honour.
The Venice Film Festival traditionally marks the beginning of the international awards season. Moreover, the festival often helps identify films and performances that later become major Oscar contenders.
This year, however, several major studio-backed productions were absent from the Venice programme. Hollywood studios are increasingly reassessing film marketing strategies while also seeking to reduce production and distribution costs.
