NAZA, the award-winning documentary from Israeli film-makers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, will reach cinemas in more than 50 countries before a digital global release on theguardian.com.

The Guardian, which produced the film, announced the theatrical rollout across 56 territories. The film documents Israel's mass killing of civilians in Gaza.

NAZA premiered at the Venice film festival earlier this month, where it received a 25-minute standing ovation — a festival record. The documentary then won the special jury prize, cementing its status as one of the standout titles of this year's edition.

The scale of the release is unusual for a documentary dealing with an ongoing conflict. A theatrical run spanning 56 territories, followed by free global streaming access through the Guardian's website, positions NAZA to reach audiences far beyond the festival circuit that first championed it.

For Abraham and Szor, both Israeli film-makers, the Venice recognition and now the global distribution deal mark a significant moment. Their film arrived at the festival carrying the weight of its subject — the killing of civilians in Gaza — and left with one of the event's major honors.

The 25-minute ovation, the longest in the festival's history according to the announcement, set the tone for the film's reception. The special jury prize followed, awarded by the Venice jury alongside the festival's top honors.

The strategy of pairing a wide theatrical release with free digital availability on theguardian.com reflects the Guardian's role as producer. Rather than limiting the film to conventional distribution channels, the plan opens it to viewers worldwide once the cinema window closes.

With its Venice laurels secured and a release plan now in place across more than 50 countries, NAZA is positioned to become one of the most widely seen documentaries of the season.