The 83rd Venice Film Festival has officially come to an end, closing its 2026 edition with a major awards ceremony that saw May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown take home the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Film.

The Danish drama emerged as one of the festival’s biggest successes, while its leading actress, Mathilde Arcel, also won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, giving the film a rare double victory. 

Woman Unknown Takes the Golden Lion

Directed by May el-Toukhy, Woman Unknown is set in Denmark in the aftermath of the Second World War.

The film follows a young housemaid whose past relationship with a German soldier threatens her future as she prepares to marry a wealthy man. Against the backdrop of post-war Denmark, the story explores the treatment of women accused of having relationships with occupying German forces. 

El-Toukhy’s victory is particularly significant because she was the only woman to have solely directed a film in the festival’s 21-film main competition.

Her Golden Lion win makes her the eighth woman in Venice Film Festival history to receive the festival’s top prize. 

The film’s success continued with Mathilde Arcel winning Best Actress for her first major leading role.

John Malkovich Wins Best Actor

One of the night’s biggest acting victories went to John Malkovich, who won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh.

The film is a dark comedy centred on an ageing and unconventional CIA agent.

Malkovich was not at the ceremony in person because he was filming in Montreal, but he appeared through a video message to accept the award and said he was humbled to receive the honour. 

The recognition could also put Wild Horse Nine and Malkovich further into the conversation as awards season begins, with Venice traditionally serving as an important early indicator for films that go on to compete during the Oscars campaign. 

Lee Chang-dong Takes the Grand Jury Prize

South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong received the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize for Possible Love.

The film marks Lee’s return to cinema after eight years and explores class, labour and increasingly disconnected human relationships.

Lee described the film as an attempt to question what cinema can do during a period when traditional ideas of work and human connection are changing. 

DAUnWins Best Director

The Best Director prize went to Ilya Khrzhanovsky for DAU.

The ambitious Germany-France-Sweden production has attracted considerable attention and controversy, while Khrzhanovsky dedicated his award to Ukraine. 

Full Major Winners

• 🏆 Golden Lion: Woman Unknown — May el-Toukhy
• 🥈 Grand Jury Prize: Possible Love — Lee Chang-dong
• 🎬 Best Director: Ilya Khrzhanovsky — DAU
• 👩 Best Actress: Mathilde Arcel — Woman Unknown
• 👨 Best Actor: John Malkovich — Wild Horse Nine
• ✍️ Best Screenplay: Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amedeo & Olivier Gorce — A Good Little Soldier
• 🎖️ Special Jury Prize: NAZA — Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor
• 🌟 Best Emerging Actor/Actress: Malou Khebizi — A Place To Heal 

NAZA Takes the Special Jury Prize

The politically charged documentary NAZA, directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, received the Special Jury Prize.

The film examines alleged Israeli military strategies and the use of artificial intelligence in operations in Gaza, based partly on interviews with Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers. Its presence at Venice generated significant political debate throughout the festival. 

A Strong Start to Awards Season

With Venice now concluded, attention will turn toward the Toronto International Film Festival and the wider autumn awards season.

Venice has traditionally been an important launchpad for films hoping to make an impact during awards season, meaning the performances from John Malkovich and Mathilde Arcel, along with Woman Unknown, Possible Love and Wild Horse Nine, could continue to generate attention in the months ahead. 

The 2026 edition ultimately closed with a strong emphasis on women’s stories, political cinema, historical memory and social divisions, while also giving the spotlight to established stars such as Malkovich.

For Woman Unknown, however, the night belonged to May el-Toukhy and Mathilde Arcel — leaving Venice with both the festival’s top film prize and its Best Actress award.