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‘Woman Unknown’ by May el-Toukhy wins Golden Lion at Venice

The Venice Film Festival awarded the Golden Lion to Danish director May el-Toukhy's ‘Woman Unknown’. Other productions, including ‘Possible Love’, were also honored.

13 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: ‘Woman Unknown’ by May el-Toukhy wins Golden Lion at Venice — Archive photoPhoto: Republic of Korea · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

At the Venice Film Festival, the film ‘Woman Unknown’, directed by May el-Toukhy, was awarded the Golden Lion, making it the only work by a female director in the official competition. The film, focused on a nanny trying to rebuild her life after World War II, received praise from the jury, led by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Meanwhile, the Grand Jury Prize went to ‘Possible Love’ by South Korean director Lee Chang-Dong. This edition of the festival also recognized John Malkovich as Best Actor for his performance in ‘Wild Horse Nine’ and Mathilde Arcel as Best Actress for her role in ‘Woman Unknown’.

The Special Jury Prize was awarded to ‘NAZA’, a documentary addressing the destruction in Gaza. Critics have noted this year’s festival for the low representation of female directors, which has sparked a debate about gender inequality in the film industry.

The festival concluded with a winners' list that includes, in addition to the aforementioned prizes, the recognition of Ilya Khrzhanovskiy's ‘DAU’ as Best Director. The awards ceremony was marked by controversy and attention to political themes in the cinematic narratives presented.

Throughout the festival, ‘Woman Unknown’ stood out not only for its theme but also as a project that questions female representation in film, marking the eighth award won by a woman in the festival's history.

Comments about the awards highlight that ‘Woman Unknown’ and ‘Possible Love’ symbolize a new era in cinema, seeking to bring visibility to diverse stories and create space for less conventional narratives. The awardees expressed surprise and gratitude for the recognition.

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