Published : 13 Sep 2026, 09:12 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:50 AM
May El-Toukhy's "Woman Unknown" has won the Golden Lion for best film at the 2026 Venice Film Festival, according to Variety.
The Danish drama, which follows a housemaid whose relationship with a German soldier during World War Two threatens her future, was the only competition film directed solely by a woman.
El-Toukhy thanked jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal for highlighting the lack of opportunities for female filmmakers, saying the film was made to "illuminate the unknown women of our common history".
"Woman Unknown" star Mathilde Arcel won the Volpi Cup for best actress, calling it her first lead role, first festival and first award.
John Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for best actor for "Wild Horse Nine", appearing via video from Montreal to thank director Martin McDonagh and co-star Sam Rockwell.
The grand jury prize went to Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love", which will represent South Korea at the Oscars. Lee said the film asked what cinema could do "in an era where the meaning of labour is fading".
Russian dissident Ilya Khrzhanovsky won the Silver Lion for best director for "DAU", dedicating it to Ukrainians fighting the war and to his mother, born in Ukraine before the Nazi occupation.
The special jury prize went to "NAZA", a Gaza conflict documentary by Israeli co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who said it was important for Israelis, Europeans and Americans to watch it given their governments' roles in the conflict.
The ceremony also paid tribute to Oscar-winning British producer Jeremy Thomas, who died on Friday aged 77. Thomas won best picture for Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor" in 1988.
The jury, led by Gyllenhaal, included directors Kaouther Ben Hania, Johnnie To, Shahrbanoo Sadat and Xavier Giannoli, composer Daniel Blumberg and academic Francesco Casetti.
Full list of winners
Competition
Golden Lion for Best Film: "Woman Unknown", May El-Toukhy
Grand Jury Prize: "Possible Love", Lee Chang-dong
Silver Lion for Best Director: Ilya Khrzhanovsky, "DAU"
Special Jury Prize: "NAZA", Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor
Best Screenplay: "Un Bon Petit Soldat", Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo, Olivier Gorce
Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Mathilde Arcel, "Woman Unknown"
Volpi Cup for Best Actor: John Malkovich, "Wild Horse Nine"
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor: Malou Khebizi, "15/18 (A Place to Heal)"
Armani Beauty Audience Award: "Eu contez" ("I Matter"), Alina Șerban
Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Debut Film: "La maison du vent", Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu
Horizons
Best Film: "Un détour par Diane", Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni
Best Director: Jaqueline Lentzou, "Mia Mera Sti Zoi Tis Tzo: Kefalaio Faidra"
Special Jury Prize: "La maison du vent", Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu
Best Actress: Laleh Marzban, "Moragheb"
Best Actor: Riccardo Scamarcio, "I figli della scimmia"
Best Screenplay: Tommaso Landucci and Damiano Femfert, "I figli della scimmia"
Best Short Film: "Quelques instants de bonheur", Shaden Safieddine Tazi
Venice Classics
Best Restored Film: "La lunga notte del '43", Florestano Vancini
Venice Immersive
Grand Prize: "The Pigeon Ring", Shixin Tao and Yuqi Zhang
Special Jury Prize: "Out of the Ashes", Rory Mitchell and Nonny de la Peña
Achievement Prize: "Empire at Sea", Peter Flaherty
