Israeli-American Council protests screenings of Gaza documentary 'NAZA' across the US
The Israeli-American Council organised protests outside US screenings of the documentary 'NAZA', including in North Hollywood on its US theatrical opening, saying the film omits context about 7 October. The group says it is not trying to stop the film being shown.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1Dozens of Israeli-Americans and members of the Jewish community protested outside a Friday screening of the documentary NAZA at the Laemmle NoHo 7 theatre in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on the day the film opened theatrically in the US. The Hollywood ReporterLC “During a Friday screening of NAZA at Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood, dozens of Israeli-Americans and members of the Jewish community protested outside the theater.”“The doc released theatrically in the United States on Friday.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2The protest was organised by the Israeli-American Council (IAC). Protesters wore Israeli and American flags and carried signs reading "Learn the Facts. Know the Truth." and "Movies Have Editors. History Does Not.", along with images of the 7 October attack and posters calling for the return of hostages. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Some protestors were wrapped in Israeli and American flags, holding signs that read, “Learn the Facts. Know the Truth.” and “Movies Have Editors. History Does Not.”” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “Protesters draped themselves in Israeli and US flags outside the venue” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2IAC chief operating officer Aya Shechter said: "Our message is clear: wherever lies are told about Israel, we will show up with the truth." The Hollywood ReporterLC ““Our message is clear: wherever lies are told about Israel, we will show up with the truth,” said Aya Shechter” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “"Our message is clear: wherever lies are told about Israel, we will show up with the truth," said Aya Shechter” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Mixed · 2NAZA is co-directed by Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who said they made it out of "a sense of obligation to use our position as Israelis to examine the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians for which our country is responsible." The Jerusalem Post says it was produced with The Guardian and features anonymous interviews with military and intelligence personnel about the Israeli military's use of artificial intelligence tools and targeting in Gaza. The Hollywood ReporterLC “made this film out of a sense of obligation to use our position as Israelis to examine the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians for which our country is responsible.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “features anonymous interviews with military and intelligence personnel discussing the Israeli military's use of artificial intelligence tools and targeting practices in Gaza” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The film won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Its title comes from a Hebrew military acronym for anticipated civilian casualties, according to the Jerusalem Post. The Hollywood ReporterLC “At the Venice Film Festival, NAZA received the Special Jury Prize.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “The film takes its title from a Hebrew military acronym for anticipated civilian casualties, or collateral damage” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The Los Angeles protest followed others organised by the IAC: the film's September premiere at the New York Film Festival drew protesters, where Nova festival survivors Rom El-Hai and Shalev Biton spoke. The Jerusalem Post adds protests at Lincoln Center, the Hamptons International Film Festival, about 30 activists at a Mill Valley Film Festival screening in the San Francisco Bay Area, and an all-day demonstration in Newton, Massachusetts. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The September premiere of NAZA at the New York Film Festival was also met with protestors organized by the IAC.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “IAC joined local Jewish community members in Newton, Massachusetts, in organizing an all-day demonstration outside a local screening of the film on Saturday.”“IAC also led approximately 30 activists to assemble outside the Smith Rafael Film Center in the San Francisco Bay Area” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Mixed · 2IAC co-chair Tal Shuster said in New York the group was not saying the film should not be shown: "Everyone has the freedom of speech... We are saying: it's not all the facts." He urged screenings to invite survivors to speak at panels. The Jerusalem Post reports IAC has launched a petition asking cultural institutions, festivals and cinemas to accompany screenings with panels, survivor testimony and background materials. The Hollywood ReporterLC ““We’re here not because we’re saying, don’t show the film,” IAC co-chair Tal Shuster said of NAZA during the New York rally.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “IAC launched a petition calling on “cultural institutions, film festivals and movie theaters across the United States to accompany screenings of 'NAZA' with panels, survivor testimony, and background and context materials.”” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1Critics cited by the Jerusalem Post argue the film relies on unverified anonymous claims, presents a biased narrative against the Israel Defense Forces and ignores the realities of fighting Hamas in dense urban areas. That outlet also reports that Israeli filmmakers Roi Danino, Ariel Averbuch and Hagay Gutman made a counter-documentary, 'NAZA: The Real Story', which the IAC was to screen in Manhattan on Monday, with a panel. The Jerusalem PostRC “arguing that it relies on unverified anonymous claims, promotes a distorted and biased narrative against the Israel Defense Forces”“IAC is hosting the first US screening of “NAZA: The Real Story” on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Monday.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Hollywood Reporter treats it as an entertainment-industry news item: a protest at the film's US theatrical opening, with the directors' stated purpose and the IAC's quotes.
- Emphasis
- The North Hollywood protest, the directors' statement, the Venice Special Jury Prize, and Shuster's remarks that the film should still be shown.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the film's use of anonymous sources, criticisms of its accuracy, the counter-documentary or protests beyond New York and Los Angeles.
- For example
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“The doc released theatrically in the United States on Friday.” — The Hollywood Reporter
““We’re here not because we’re saying, don’t show the film,” IAC co-chair Tal Shuster said of NAZA during the New York rally.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Jerusalem Post presents a coordinated, nationwide pro-Israel response led by the IAC to a film it calls controversial, giving critics' charges of bias and unverified claims.
- Emphasis
- Criticism of anonymous sourcing, the spread of protests, the petition for added context, and the counter-documentary 'NAZA: The Real Story'.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include the directors' own statement of purpose or any defence of the film's sourcing.
- Charged language
- “controversial”“distorted”“fierce controversy”
- For example
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“It has ignited fierce controversy, with critics sharply criticizing the documentary” — The Jerusalem Post
“Pro-Israel groups are protesting screenings of 'NAZA' across the US, accusing the documentary of presenting a distorted account of the Gaza war and demanding additional context.” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- The IAC organised a protest outside the Laemmle NoHo 7 theatre in North Hollywood during a Friday screening of NAZA.
- Protesters carried Israeli and American flags and signs reading 'Learn the Facts. Know the Truth.' and 'Movies Have Editors. History Does Not.'
- NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the film is accurate and balanced
- Left
- Quotes the directors saying it examines systems behind the killing of Palestinian civilians; IAC says it is 'not all the facts'.
- Right
- Describes critics saying it relies on unverified anonymous claims and a distorted, biased narrative.
Israeli-American Council organisation
Says it is showing up against what it calls lies about Israel, wants added context and survivor testimony at screenings, and says it does not aim to stop the film being shown.
“Don’t just show one side without the facts from the other side.” — The Hollywood Reporter
“IAC emphasized that these protests and counter-screenings are not intended to prevent the film from being shown” — The Jerusalem Post
NAZA (film) other
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor say they made it to examine the systems behind the killing of Palestinian civilians; critics dispute its reliance on anonymous sources.
“made this film out of a sense of obligation to use our position as Israelis” — The Hollywood Reporter
“it relies on unverified anonymous claims” — The Jerusalem Post
Left1 article
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Israeli Americans Protest ‘NAZA’ Los Angeles Screening as Doc Releases Theatrically in U.S.
Neutral Short news report on the Los Angeles protest, quoting both the directors and the IAC without characterising the film's accuracy.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Israeli American Council leads nationwide protests against controversial Gaza documentary 'NAZA'
Critical Reports the protests as a nationwide pro-Israel campaign and relays critics' accusations of bias and unverified claims against the film.
- 9 Oct 23:48 First The Hollywood ReporterLC Israeli Americans Protest ‘NAZA’ Los Angeles Screening as Doc Releases Theatrically in U.S.
- 12 Oct 17:40 +65h 52m The Jerusalem PostRC Israeli American Council leads nationwide protests against controversial Gaza documentary 'NAZA'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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