The 83rd Venice International Film Festival, presided over by jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal, drew to a close on the Lido with a prize list that balanced bold political filmmaking with more traditional star vehicles. The top honour, the Golden Lion, went to Danish director May el-Toukhy for Woman Unknown, a post-war drama that had been among the most talked-about entries in a competition of 21 films spanning documentaries, European art cinema and Hollywood productions.
El-Toukhy, best known internationally for the 2018 thriller Queen of Hearts, sets her new film in Denmark in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The story follows Marie, a young nanny and housekeeper played by Mathilde Arcel, who is on the verge of marrying Christian, the wealthy older widower she works for, portrayed by Carsten Bjørnlund. But Marie carries a secret that threatens to unravel her new life: during the war she had an intimate relationship with a German soldier. As she fights to secure her place as lady of the house in a society still raw from occupation, the film immerses viewers in her psychological torment.
The jury recognised Arcel's performance with the Coppa Volpi for best actress, a choice that underlined the film's emotional core. Woman Unknown is a co-production between Denmark, Sweden and Latvia, and its win continues a strong run for Nordic cinema at the festival.
Political documentaries and long ovations
The Special Jury Prize went to NAZA, a documentary co-directed by Israeli filmmakers Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham. The film, which was added to the lineup late, features Israeli military insiders speaking candidly about the war in Gaza and what they describe as the systematic killing of Palestinian civilians. It is the only documentary in competition this year and one of just two films in the entire selection directed by women. Its premiere reportedly drew a 25-minute standing ovation, the longest in the festival's history, a record that itself became a talking point. For more on that reception, see our earlier report on the NAZA ovation.
Another film that generated considerable buzz was Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine, a dark comedy set on Easter Island in the months before Chile's 1973 military coup. The film follows two CIA agents, played by John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, whose mission goes awry. McDonagh, who previously premiered Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin in Venice, saw his latest work receive a standing ovation lasting more than ten minutes. Malkovich's performance earned him the Coppa Volpi for best actor, adding to the festival's recognition of his career.
The Silver Lion Jury Prize went to Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love, a film that explores the complexities of romantic attachment across generations. The South Korean director, a regular at major festivals, was praised for his restrained yet emotionally resonant storytelling.
Other awards and notable premieres
The Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor or actress went to Malou Khebizi for her role in Cédric Kahn's 15/18 (A Place to Heal). The French drama follows two teenage girls as they navigate life in the psychiatric ward of a public hospital, a subject that resonated with audiences and critics alike.
Stéphane Brizé's Un bon petit soldat took the award for best screenplay. The film stars Alba Rohrwacher as Clara, a 43-year-old high-performing executive whose polished exterior masks deep insecurity. Brizé's script examines the toll that professional success takes on personal relationships, a theme that felt particularly timely in a festival year marked by discussions of work-life balance and mental health.
The festival opened with a mix of geopolitical tension and Hollywood glamour, as Clooney, geopolitics and AI took centre stage. Beyond the competition, the Lido's historic hotels are undergoing a quiet luxury revival, offering visitors a taste of the island's storied past. And for those planning their autumn cinema calendar, our fall preview highlights the films that will dominate the coming months.
This year's Venice lineup demonstrated the festival's continued ability to provoke and inspire, from the political urgency of NAZA to the intimate drama of Woman Unknown. As the industry looks ahead to awards season, the Golden Lion winner will likely remain a fixture in conversations about the year's best cinema.
