Venice 2026: May El-Toukhy wins the Golden Lion, John Malkovich and Stéphane Brizé honored

Venice 2026: May El-Toukhy wins the Golden Lion, John Malkovich and Stéphane Brizé honored

ByLeila

She was the only solo filmmaker in official competition this year at the Mostra. And it is she who walks away with the Golden Lion for Woman Unknown.

The jury of the Mostra 2026 chaired by Maggie Gyllenhaal last night crowned May El-Toukhy for Woman UnknownDanish-Swedish-Latvian co-production – which succeeds Father Mother Sister Brother by Jim Jarmusch. A victory all the more notable as the Danish director was the only woman to present a film in official competition, with Rachel Szor, co-director of NAZA with Yuval Abraham, the other female director of a selection which had caused a lot of talk.

Its star, the Danish actress Mathilde Arcel, was awarded the Volpi Cup for best actress for her role as a servant, a young woman about to marry the rich widower for whom she works, but whose life could be turned upside down by a secret she keeps, in the middle of World War II. Woman Unknown does not yet have a release date in France.

For his part, John Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for best actor for his role as a CIA veteran in Wild Horse Nine by Martin McDonagh.

The Marcello Mastroianni Prize for Best Newcomer, for his part, distinguished the young Frenchwoman Malou Khebizi for her role as Lucia, locked up in a child psychiatry unit, in the drama 15/18 by Cedric Kahn.

Other sacred French people, Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo and Olivier Gorce leave with the prize for best screenplay for their business chronicle A good little soldierworn by Vincent Lindon.

Finally, filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky was awarded the Silver Lion for Best Director for DAU.

Here is the complete list of winners of this 83rd Venice Film Festival.

OFFICIAL COMPETITION

Golden Lion for best film: Woman Unknown by May El-Toukhy

Grand Jury Prize: Possible Love by Lee Chang-dong

Silver Lion for Best Director: Ilya Khrzhanovsky for DAU

Special jury prize: NAZA by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor

Prize for best screenplay: Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo and Olivier Gorce for A good little soldier

Volpi Cup for best actress: Mathilde Arcel for Woman Unknown

Volpi Cup for Best Actor: John Malkovich for Wild Horse Nine

Marcello Mastroianni Prize for Best Newcomer: Malou Khebizi for 15/18

Armani Beauty Audience Award: Had a story (I Matter) by Alina Șerban

Luigi De Laurentiis Prize for best first film: The house of wind (House of the Wind) by Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu

HORIZONS

Best Film Award: A detour through Diane (Diane in the Loop) by Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni

Best Director Award: Jaqueline Lentzou for Mia Mera Sti Zoi Tis Tzo: Kefalaio Faidra (A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra)

Special jury prize: The house of wind (House of the Wind) by Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu

Best Actress Award: Laleh Marzban for Moragheb (Falling House)

Best Actor Award: Riccardo Scamarcio for I figli della scimmia (The Children of the Monkey)

Prize for best screenplay: Tommaso Landucci and Damiano Femfert for I figli della scimmia (The Children of the Monkey)

Best Short Film Award: A few moments of happiness (A Few Moments of Happiness) by Shaden Safieddine Tazi

VENICE CLASSICS

Prize for best restored film: The note of ’43 (Long Night of 1943) by Florestano Vancini

IMMERSIVE VENICE

Grand Prize: The Pigeon Ring by Shixin Tao and Yuqi Zhang

Special jury prize: Out of the Ashes by Rory Mitchell and Nonny de la Peña

Award for achievement: Empire at Sea by Peter Flaherty

Leila
Leila

Leila is the editor-in-chief at DTmovies, leading the charge with her team to deliver engaging cinema and series content. With a keen eye for emerging trends and a passion for the stories behind the screen, she is the creative backbone that drives the site’s editorial excellence. Her expertise and dedication have established DTmovies as a go-to source for film and series enthusiasts.

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