Venice Film Festival Announces 2026 Award Winners

The 2026 Venice Film Festival concluded on Saturday with the announcement of the year’s top honors. The festival’s highest award, the Golden Lion for best film, was presented to the Danish drama Woman Unknown, directed by May el-Toukhy. The film centers on a young housemaid whose past intimate relationship with a German soldier during the Nazi occupation of Denmark threatens her future.

The international jury for this year’s competition was led by U.S. filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal. During the festival, Gyllenhaal addressed the industry’s gender disparity, noting during an opening press conference that there is a systemic problem regarding the financing of films directed by women. El-Toukhy, who was one of only two female filmmakers in the main competition, acknowledged these challenges during her acceptance speech, thanking Gyllenhaal for highlighting the lack of equal opportunities for women in the industry.

In addition to the Golden Lion, the film’s lead actress, Mathilde Arcel, was awarded the Volpi Cup for best actress for her performance in Woman Unknown. El-Toukhy described the production process as a significant personal and professional sacrifice, noting that she utilized all available resources and savings to complete the project. She stated that her primary motivation was to illuminate the stories of women who have been overlooked in common history.

Other major awards were distributed by the jury throughout the evening. The Silver Lion for best director was awarded to Ilya Khrzhanovsky for his work on DAU. The Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize was presented to Lee Chang-dong for the film Possible Love. Additionally, the Special Jury Prize was awarded to the film NAZA.

The awards ceremony served as the final event for the festival, which saw stars gather on the Lido for the concluding red carpet. The recognition of Woman Unknown and its creative team marked a significant moment for Danish cinema at this year’s festival, capping off a busy fall season for the international film community.