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Venice 2026 Closes with a Double Triumph for Woman Unknown
May el-Toukhy’s film wins the Golden Lion, while leading actress Mathilde Arcel takes the Volpi Cup for Best Actress.
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival, Venice, Italy. Editorial Collage: FILLIN Magazine.
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival came to a close on September 12, with the festival’s highest honour — the Golden Lion for Best Film — awarded to Kvinde Ukendt (Woman Unknown) by Danish-Egyptian filmmaker May el-Toukhy.
The film’s triumph was a double one: Mathilde Arcel, who plays the leading role, received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, making Woman Unknown one of the defining stories of the closing ceremony.
Set in Denmark in the aftermath of the Second World War, the film follows Marie, a young nanny and housemaid preparing to marry Christian, a wealthy widower. But a relationship she had with a German soldier during the war threatens to unravel the new life she is about to enter. Through Marie’s personal story, el-Toukhy explores questions of social class, sexuality, shame, public judgement and the position of women in post-war society.
The film’s triumph was a double one: Mathilde Arcel, who plays the leading role, received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, making Woman Unknown one of the defining stories of the closing ceremony.
Set in Denmark in the aftermath of the Second World War, the film follows Marie, a young nanny and housemaid preparing to marry Christian, a wealthy widower. But a relationship she had with a German soldier during the war threatens to unravel the new life she is about to enter. Through Marie’s personal story, el-Toukhy explores questions of social class, sexuality, shame, public judgement and the position of women in post-war society.
Woman Unknown (Kvinde Ukendt), directed by May el-Toukhy, starring Mathilde Arcel.
Images courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia.
Images courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia.
The victory of Woman Unknown is also notable within the context of this year’s main competition: it was the only film competing for the Golden Lion to be directed solely by a woman. The documentary NAZA, a late addition to the competition, was co-directed by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham.
Among the evening’s other major winners was Lee Chang-dong, whose Possible Love received the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, while Ilya Khrzhanovsky was awarded the Silver Lion for Best Director for DAU. John Malkovich received the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine.
The Award for Best Screenplay went to Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo and Olivier Gorce for A Good Little Soldier. The Special Jury Prize was awarded to NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, while the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress went to Malou Khebizi for her performance in Cédric Kahn’s 15/18 (A Place to Heal).
Among the evening’s other major winners was Lee Chang-dong, whose Possible Love received the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, while Ilya Khrzhanovsky was awarded the Silver Lion for Best Director for DAU. John Malkovich received the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine.
The Award for Best Screenplay went to Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo and Olivier Gorce for A Good Little Soldier. The Special Jury Prize was awarded to NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, while the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress went to Malou Khebizi for her performance in Cédric Kahn’s 15/18 (A Place to Heal).
Venice 2026: Winners of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
Editorial collage by FILLIN Magazine.
Editorial collage by FILLIN Magazine.
The winners of the main competition were selected by an international jury chaired by Maggie Gyllenhaal, alongside Kaouther Ben Hania, Daniel Blumberg, Francesco Casetti, Xavier Giannoli, Shahrbanoo Sadat and Johnnie To.
The Venice International Film Festival ran from September 2 to 12, 2026. This year, Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement were also presented to George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn.
Following the awards ceremony at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido, Giovanni Veronesi’s Dio ride had its world premiere. Presented Out of Competition, the film officially brought the 83rd Venice International Film Festival to a close.
The Venice International Film Festival ran from September 2 to 12, 2026. This year, Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement were also presented to George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn.
Following the awards ceremony at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido, Giovanni Veronesi’s Dio ride had its world premiere. Presented Out of Competition, the film officially brought the 83rd Venice International Film Festival to a close.
Yet the final spotlight of Venice 2026 belonged to Woman Unknown. With both the Golden Lion and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, May el-Toukhy’s post-war drama ended the festival with a double victory — transforming one woman’s story into an exploration of social norms, power and the price of public judgement.
May el-Toukhy and Mathilde Arcel celebrate the double triumph of Woman Unknown at Venice 2026. Editorial collage by FILLIN Magazine.