Woman Unknown wins the Golden Lion in Venice as NAZA takes special Jury Prize
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has announced its winners, with Danish-Egyptian director May el-Toukhy taking home the festival’s top award. Her drama Woman Unknown received the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Film at the closing ceremony in Venice.
The film, set in Denmark shortly after the end of the Second World War, follows Marie, a young maid who is preparing to marry her wealthy employer. However, a secret connected to her wartime past threatens to disrupt her plans and change the course of her life.
The film’s success was even more significant because Mathilde Arcel, who plays Marie, also won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress. It was one of the most notable results of this year’s competition.
A Story About Women and Their Past
Woman Unknown focuses on a period when Denmark was dealing with the aftermath of Nazi occupation. Marie is attempting to build a new future, but her previous relationship with a German soldier could have serious consequences.
The story explores questions of social judgment, personal freedom and the position of women in a society emerging from war.
For director May el-Toukhy, the film is also connected to the experiences of women whose stories have often been overlooked by history. Her victory was particularly significant because Woman Unknown was the only film in this year’s main competition directed solely by a woman.
El-Toukhy dedicated the award to women whose voices have historically been ignored and emphasized the importance of bringing their experiences into the spotlight.
NAZA Receives the Special Jury Prize
Another major talking point of the festival was the documentary NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
The film examines the war in Gaza through testimony from Israeli military insiders. Much of the documentary was filmed at night on rooftops in Tel Aviv, with participants speaking about military operations and the treatment of Palestinian civilians.
NAZA received the Special Jury Prize, adding another major award to a film that had already generated considerable attention before the ceremony.
The documentary also received an extraordinary response from the Venice audience. Its screening was followed by an approximately 25-minute standing ovation, making it one of the most talked-about moments of the festival.
The film was produced by The Guardian and directed by two filmmakers who were also involved in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.
Other Major Winners
South Korean director Lee Chang-dong received the Grand Jury Prize for Possible Love, a drama exploring relationships and social tensions.
The Silver Lion for Best Director went to Ilya Khrzhanovsky for DAU. Meanwhile, American actor John Malkovichwon the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in Wild Horse Nine.
The award for Best Screenplay went to Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo and Olivier Gorce for A Good Little Soldier.
Young actress Malou Khebizi received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for her performance in 15/18 A Place to Heal.
A Festival Marked by Strong Social Themes
This year’s Venice Film Festival featured a number of films dealing with difficult historical and contemporary issues.
The victory of Woman Unknown highlighted questions surrounding women’s experiences and social expectations, while NAZA brought the ongoing conflict in Gaza directly into the center of the festival’s discussion.
The final awards therefore reflected not only cinematic achievement but also the broader themes that dominated this year’s competition.
With Woman Unknown taking the Golden Lion and NAZA receiving the Special Jury Prize, the 2026 Venice Film Festival ended with two very different films attracting much of the international attention.
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