Venice Film Festival ends with Golden Lion at stake after ‘NAZA’ draws record ovation
The Danish drama earned the festival’s top prize as Mathilde Arcel also won best actress, giving the film a rare double victory.
- On Saturday, Danish filmmaker May el-Toukhy's post-war drama "Woman Unknown" won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, with star Mathilde Arcel securing best actress honors in a rare double victory.
- El-Toukhy's achievement highlighted a stark gender disparity: she was the only woman directing a feature in the festival's 21-strong main line-up, drawing criticism and prompting renewed scrutiny of systemic barriers facing women filmmakers.
- Beyond the top prize, John Malkovich won best actor for "Wild Horse Nine", while South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong took the Silver Lion for "Promised Love" and Russian-born filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky won best director for "DAU".
- Documentary "NAZA" by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor won the Special Jury Prize, following Thursday's record 25-minute standing ovation for "The Voice of Hind Rajab", highlighting the festival's focus on global politics.
- Festival director Alberto Barbera defended the male-dominated line-up as merit-based, even as many big studio-backed Hollywood contenders remained absent this year due to cost-cutting measures.
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The Danish-Egyptian director paid tribute to "invisible and voiceless women." Ilia Khrjanovski dedicated her silver lion "to Ukrainians fighting for freedom," and Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor received the jury's special prize for their documentary on civilians killed by the Israeli army in Gaza.
‘Woman Unknown’ wins Venice’s Golden Lion as Mathilde Arcel takes best actress
Danish film 'Woman Unknown' secured the Golden Lion at Venice. Mathilde Arcel also won best actress for her role in the drama. John Malkovich received the best actor award for his CIA agent portrayal. A documentary on Gaza's civilian deaths also garnered significant attention. The festival highlighted global politics and social issues this year.
The director has been awarded the main prize of the Venice Film Festival for her film «Woman Unknown».
Quick News: Venice, People, Stung, Prime, Devils
Venice May el-Toukhy’s post-WW2 Denmark-set tale “Woman Unknown” has taken the top prize of the Golden Lion for best film at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The story focuses on a maid (Mathilde Arcel) whose past during the Nazi occupation threatens to unravel her future. It also won for Best Actress. Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love” […]
The Danish drama Woman Unknown won both the film festival's top prize and the award for best actress.
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