Israeli documentary directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor have asked Greek distributors Filmtrade and Tanweer to suspend screenings of their film Naza on October 7, the anniversary of the 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
Following the directors’ request, the distributors asked the cinemas screening the documentary — Cinobo Opera and Danaos in Athens and Olympion in Thessaloniki — not to hold their scheduled screenings on Wednesday, October 7.
Filmtrade and Tanweer also sent the cinemas a statement that they said production companies MK2 and Guardian prepared in consultation with the directors. The statement says the distributors are postponing all scheduled screenings of Naza on October 7 at the directors’ request and as a mark of respect for the victims of the 2023 Hamas terrorist attack.
The Greek distributors said they have circulated the same statement to all European cinemas screening Naza. In some countries, including the Netherlands, cinemas will not screen the film on October 6, 7 or 8.
According to Dutch news website Dutch Breaking News, the decision to postpone the screenings followed threats against the directors and their families.
Abraham and Szor premiered Naza at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in September, where the documentary won the Special Jury Prize. The film also received what was described as the longest applause in the history of the major film festival.
In Naza, 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers, who speak anonymously, discuss surveillance, targeting and remote-killing systems used in Gaza.
Screenings of Naza in Greece will resume as scheduled on Thursday, October 8.
