‘Woman Unknown’ Wins Venice Golden Lion

The 83rd Venice Film Festival concluded with May el-Toukhy's Danish-Egyptian drama "Woman Unknown" claiming the prestigious Golden Lion award. This marks the only instance of a woman director in competition this year. Jury proceedings were presided over by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who candidly addressed the underrepresentation of female filmmakers as a systemic issue during the opening press conference.

Mathilde Arcel, who stars in "Woman Unknown", earned the Golden Lion's equivalent for the Best Actress, Volpi Cup. This year's jury also comprised Kaouther Ben Hania, whose film "The Voice of Hind Rijab" clinched the Silver Lion — Grand Jury Prize. South Korean director Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love" took home the Silver Lion — Best Film.

The festival's documentary "Naza", directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, was bestowed the Special Jury Prize. John Malkovich, accepting his Volpi Cup via remote due to his role in Martin McDonagh's "Wild Horse Nine", garnered praise for his performance. Malkovich's portrayal, noted for its subtlety and emotional depth, has been considered as a potential Oscar nominee.

This year, George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn each received a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement. The complete list of winners is as follows: Main Competition - Golden Lion for Best Film: "Woman Unknown", May el-Toukhy; Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: "Possible Love", Lee Chang-dong; Silver Lion Best Director: Ilya Hersanovsky, "Dau"; Special Jury Prize: "Naza", Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor; Volpi Cup Best Actor: John Malkovich, "Wild Horse Nine"; Volpi Cup Best Actress: Mathilde Arcel, "Woman Unknown"; Best Screenplay: "Un Bon Petit Soldat", Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amedeo and Olivier Gorce; Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress: Malou Khebizi, "A Place to Heal"; Armani Beauty Audience Award: "I Matter", Alina Serban; Lion of the Future (Venice Award for Debut Film): "House of the Wind", Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu; Orizzonti (Horizons) - Best Film: "Diane in the Loop", Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni; Special Jury Prize: "House of the Wind", Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu; Best Director: Jacqueline Lentzou, "A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra"; Best Screenplay: "The Children of the Monkey", Tommaso Landucci and Damiano Femfert; Best Actress: Laleh Marzban, "Falling House"; Best Actor: Riccardo Scamarcio, "The Children of the Monkey"; Best Short Film: "A Few Moments of Happiness", Shaden Safieddine Tazi; Venice Immersive Achievement Prize: Peter Flaherty, "Empire at Sea"; Special Jury Prize: Rory Mitchell and Nonny de la Peña, "Out of the Ashes"; Grand Prize: Shixin Tao and Yuqi Zhang, "The Pigeon Ring"; Venice Classics - Best Restored Film: "Long Night of 1943", Florestano Vancini.