Caro Claire Burke, the bestselling novelist behind Yesteryear, has bought out the 1:00 pm show of NAZA at the IFC Center in New York for its opening week. She is giving away the tickets to her followers, who simply need to join the line and wait for them.
The move puts a spotlight on a documentary that has drawn strong protests from some quarters. The film explores Israel’s military tactics in Gaza, and its title refers to a military acronym used by Israeli intelligence to describe the expected death toll of airstrikes on Palestinian civilians.
Burke’s Post
Burke announced the giveaway on Insta yesterday afternoon. Her message was direct: “I’ve bought all remaining tickets for the daily 1:00 pm showing of NAZA for its upcoming opening week (Sept 30- Oct 6) at @ifccenter in Greenwich Village.”
To claim a free ticket, followers need to join the line anytime after 11 AM daily at IFC Center. Tickets for that day’s show are given out at the box office starting at 12:30 PM on a first come, first served basis, until they’re gone. Limit two tickets per person.
“I’m seeing what I can do in other cities as well, but for now we’re starting in New York,” Burke wrote.
What NAZA Shows
The documentary comes from Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, along with producer Jonathan Glazer. The team also made 2024’s Oscar-winning expose, No Other Land.
The film’s title refers to a military acronym euphemistically used by Israeli intelligence to indicate the number of civilians it expects to be killed in an airstrike. The film explores “the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” as The Guardian has reported.
The coverage leans on hard-won interviews from endangered subjects, and scoops from independent journals like +972 and The Guardian.
A Protest Movement
Despite the acclaim, the film has faced pushback. There has been a robust protest movement, culminating in threats to the filmmakers’ citizenship.
NAZA is currently collecting laurels at the New York Film Festival. It is bound for a wider release this fall.
The film’s New York run begins at IFC Center in October.
Burke’s Reasoning
Burke explained her choice of giveaway in her post. “If the purpose of art is to expand consciousness, and to challenge systems of power and oppression, then it could be argued that this is the most important work of art to come out this year,” she wrote.
“I’ll keep it simple and say this,” she wrote. “If the purpose of art is to expand consciousness, and to challenge systems of power and oppression, then it could be argued that this is the most important work of art to come out this year.”
The quote captures the core of her argument. She is not asking followers to agree with the film. She is asking them to see it.
Why This Matters
Burke’s move is notable because she is promoting a documentary that exposes Israeli military tactics in Gaza by buying out the remaining tickets for the 1:00 pm show. The giveaway is limited to the opening week, and the tickets are free. Anyone willing to stand in line can watch the film.
The protest movement around the film has not stopped its progress. The film is still collecting laurels at the New York Film Festival, and it is bound for a wider release this fall.
The film’s path is clear. It is collecting laurels at the New York Film Festival, and it is bound for a wider release this fall.
Burke’s decision to buy out the tickets is a statement. She believes the film matters, and she wants her followers to see it.
The tickets are free. The line is open. The film is playing.
- Burke buys out the 1:00 pm show at IFC Center for NAZA’s opening week.
- Tickets are given away on a first come, first served basis starting at 12:30 PM.
- The protest movement against the film includes threats to the filmmakers’ citizenship.
- NAZA is collecting laurels at the New York Film Festival.
- The film is bound for a wider release this fall.
This is a rare moment. A bestselling novelist is promoting a documentary that exposes Israeli military tactics in Gaza by buying out the remaining tickets for the 1:00 pm show. The tickets are free, and she is asking her followers to show up.
The film has already collected laurels at the New York Film Festival. It is bound for a wider release this fall.
The question is whether anyone will take the time to see it.
The tickets are free. The line is open. The film is playing.
Source material: “Caro Claire Burke has bought you (yes you) a ticket to see NAZA.,” Literary Hub.
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