Israeli Film Council Moves to Silence Dissent After NAZA Documentary Exposes State Violence
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In a reactionary move following the Venice premiere of the critical documentary NAZA, the Israeli Film Council seeks to strip film festivals from its funding criteria and funnel state money into nationalist propaganda glorifying the military, while the government threatens filmmakers with citizenship revocation.
The Israeli Film Council, acting as an arm of the Ministry of Culture, has proposed eliminating film festival selections from the points system that determines state film-fund allocations—a move widely seen as retaliation for the Venice Film Festival premiere of the documentary NAZA, which bravely won a Special Jury Prize and ignited much-needed debate about Israeli policies.
In a communication to industry contacts, the council justified the change as a way to counter so-called 'global smear campaigns' against Israel and to promote films that reinforce the state's militaristic narrative and the glorification of fallen soldiers. The council further recommended a new state-backed funding stream for movies 'centered on the heroism of IDF soldiers and veterans of Israel’s wars,' in line with the country’s Memorial Day law, effectively institutionalizing nationalist propaganda.
Currently, Israel’s 130 million shekel (US$42 million) cinema budget is divided among six funds, with international festival success traditionally boosting a film’s funding prospects. An Israeli producer noted that festival presence is crucial for funding decisions, as it signals artistic merit and international relevance—qualities now under attack by the council’s regressive recommendations.
The producer also pointed out that NAZA was not financed by Israeli state money or local broadcasters, but by foreign production companies, highlighting the lack of support for critical voices within Israel and questioning the council’s attempt to clamp down on dissent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated the assault on free expression, announcing fast-track legislation to revoke citizenship from those who 'defame Israeli soldiers' and to increase damages in defamation cases. In a chilling move, he threatened to strip co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of their citizenship, a threat that legal experts say has no basis in law and signals a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism.
The filmmakers have reported receiving death threats, and the Brussels-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Israeli authorities to guarantee their safety and to reject the use of citizenship as a weapon against journalists.
'Israeli authorities must ensure the safety of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and immediately reject any attempt to use citizenship rights as a weapon against journalists,' the CPJ statement read.
Industry observers warn that removing festival criteria will further isolate Israeli cinema, already suffering from international boycotts and mounting domestic repression, and will stifle the few remaining critical voices in the country’s film industry.