The Guardian plans on giving NAZA away for free after theatrical release. That is the headline, and it is exactly what the paper is doing: the award-winning documentary about Israeli military casualties will play theatres this fall, then land on theguardian.com for anyone to watch for free.
The film comes from Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the team behind No Other Land. That previous documentary won an Oscar for Best Documentary, and it clearly shaped how the pair are handling this one. Instead of a conventional rollout, they are betting on a wide theatrical run followed by a global online premiere on The Guardian’s own website.
The Film’s Subject
NAZA is described as an expose into IDF collateral damage. The film’s subject is the harm caused to civilians during military operations.
The Guardian produced the film, which means the publisher is putting its own resources behind the project. That is a significant commitment for a documentary of this kind.
The Distribution Plan
The plan splits into three stages:
- A theatrical premiere in New York City next week.
- A global theatrical run across more than 50 countries.
- A free digital release on theguardian.com.
The timing is sequential: theatres first, then the web. The Guardian is releasing the film to cinemas before making it available anywhere else.
The New York Premiere
The film premieres next week in New York City. That is a standard theatrical rollout, and it gives the filmmakers a chance to build momentum before the digital release.
New York audiences will be the first to see NAZA on the big screen. After that, the film moves to theatres in more than 50 countries.
The Global Release
After the theatrical run, the film moves to theguardian.com. The Guardian announced its distribution plans earlier today, confirming the free streaming arrangement.
The film will be available to stream without charge. Anyone with an internet connection can watch it. That is a radical shift from the usual documentary playbook, where films are sold through premium subscriptions or pay-per-view services.
What This Means for Viewers
For the average viewer, the takeaway is simple: if you want to see NAZA, you will be able to. The film will be free on theguardian.com after its theatrical run.
The Guardian is making the film freely accessible, which removes the barrier of cost. That is a powerful move for a documentary with a serious subject.
The Strategy Behind It
The strategy is straightforward. The Guardian is using its own platform to distribute a film it produced, and it is doing so for free. The reasoning is that a widely seen film is better than a costly one.
This is a bold move for a documentary. The Guardian is skipping the step of selling the film through streaming services entirely.
The Guardian is releasing the film to cinemas before making it available anywhere else.
The Bottom Line
The Guardian is posting a film about Israeli military casualties on its own site for free after it plays theatres. That is a bold way to get the story out.
The film premiered in New York City, will play theatres in more than 50 countries, and then will be available to stream on theguardian.com. The Oscar pedigree helps, but the free streaming decision is the gamble.
The Guardian is betting that a free film travels further than a paid one. Whether that bet pays off depends on how many people actually watch.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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