And the winner goes to... ‘Woman Unknown’, as wartime tales dominate 2026 Venice film fest

The Venice Film Festival concluded its 10-day program of often intense and unsettling films on Saturday, awarding its top prize to the Danish drama "Woman Unknown." This marked the only feature film in the competition to have a female director. The film, directed by May el-Toukhy, explored the theme of a woman concealing a wartime relationship with a Nazi, a subject that had been a focal point of discussion during the festival due to its rarity in film.

May el-Toukhy, the director, emphasized the film's exploration of the female body as a battleground and a public matter, highlighting the invisibility and voicelessness of women. The festival's jury head, American actor-director Maggie Gyllenhaal, had initially questioned the lack of female-directed films but ultimately praised "Woman Unknown" for its brilliant execution.

Other notable winners included South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love," which took second place with its poignant portrayal of a relationship; Russian filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky, who won the best director award for his experimental film "DAU"; and John Malkovich, who received the best actor award for his role in "Wild Horse Nine." Denmark's Mathilde Arcel claimed the best actress award for her debut role in "Woman Unknown."

The festival's winning documentary, "NAZA," directed by Oscar-winning Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, focused on the AI-powered targeting systems used in Gaza, sparking controversy and outrage. Despite facing criticism for the use of anonymous testimonies, the film received a special jury prize, highlighting its urgent and impactful message.