The documentary NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, has earned three significant nominations at the 39th European Film Awards. The film, which has generated considerable discussion since its release, will compete in the categories of Best European Film, Best Documentary Film, and Best Sound. These nominations were officially announced by the European Film Academy on Saturday, November 15, 2026.
The announcement took place at the Pavlos Zannas Theater in Thessaloniki, coinciding with the city's International Film Festival. The event marked the start of the competition for the year's top honors, with a diverse slate of international cinema entering the fray.
While NAZA has received attention, it is not the sole high-profile entry this year. The period drama Fatherland, directed by Polish filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski, leads the nominations with eleven total nods. It is followed by the Spanish production The Black Ball, which has secured ten nominations, and the Romanian film Fjord, a previous Palme d'Or winner, which has received five nominations.
NAZA is produced by JW Films in collaboration with the British newspaper The Guardian. Deadline magazine characterized the film as a shocking investigation, noting its impact on the industry. The publication further observed that all five films nominated in the documentary category this year were also included among the nominees for Best Film, highlighting the increasing prominence of non-fiction cinema in major award circuits.
The latest recognition for NAZA adds to a string of recent achievements. The film previously won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival in September. Since its premiere, the documentary has attracted more than 1.5 million viewers globally, cementing its status as a widely watched and debated piece of contemporary cinema.
The film's content has sparked controversy, particularly following its Venice award. The narrative relies heavily on anonymous testimonies from personnel of the Israel Defense Forces. The individuals interviewed, who identified themselves as members of top intelligence units, claimed that mass civilian deaths were routinely factored into Israeli military targeting decisions in Gaza.
One of the officers featured in the film described the situation as mass killing on an industrial scale. This statement, delivered during a series of anonymous interviews, became a focal point for critics and supporters alike, fueling the ongoing debate surrounding the film's portrayal of events.
In response to the claims presented in NAZA, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement calling for the justice system to act. He suggested that those who participated in the documentary should be prosecuted for severe information security offenses, criminal defamation, and for causing damage to Israel's diplomatic and security interests.
The final winners of the European Film Awards will be determined at the ceremony scheduled for January 16, 2027. The event will be held at the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center in Athens, Greece, where the industry will gather to celebrate the year's outstanding European cinematic achievements.
