Cinemas asked not to screen Gaza war documentary on October 7

Danish cinemas have been asked not to screen the documentary Naza on the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, DR reports. The request came from Angel Films, the film’s importer, at the wish of directors Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham.

At the Aarhus cinema Øst for Paradis, director Line Bjørn said the request would be respected. Customers who had already bought tickets for Wednesday were informed that the film would not be shown that day.

Naza premiered in Denmark last Thursday and has been screened in at least 30 cinemas nationwide, Angel Films said. It won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival last month and is based on anonymous accounts from sources in the Israeli military and intelligence services.

The film accuses the Israeli military of systematically carrying out mass killings of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The military has categorically denied the accusation, while Israelis have criticised the film’s use of anonymous sources. Israel’s culture minister, Miki Zohar, has threatened to revoke the directors’ Israeli citizenship.

The documentary has received strong reviews in Denmark, earning five or six stars from Ekko, Soundvenue and Politiken. Øst for Paradis expects to keep it in its programme beyond October 7. Bjørn said ticket sales had been quite good.