Woman Unknown wins Golden Lion

83rd Venice Film Festival Awards

The 83rd Venice Film Festival came to a close with the announcement of the winners of the prestigious Golden Lion and other awards. May el-Toukhy's "Woman Unknown" took home the top prize, with the jury, led by Maggie Gyllenhaal, praising the film's portrayal of the female body as a battleground. As el-Toukhy said, "To me personally, 'Woman Unknown' is about the female body as a battleground. At the same time, the film tells the tale of women who are unseen, invisible and voiceless." The film, set in the aftermath of the Nazi occupation of Denmark, tells the story of a young housemaid who is preparing to marry her wealthy employer, but harbors a secret past relationship with a German soldier. Mathilde Arcel, who played the lead role, won the Volpi Cup for best actress, and said, "This is my first lead role in a movie and my first time at a film festival, and I'm extremely honored."

John Malkovich Wins Best Actor

John Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for best actor for his performance in Martin McDonagh's "Wild Horse Nine." Malkovich, who was not present at the ceremony, sent a video message, saying, "I am humbled to be chosen for this award, which has been given to so many wonderful actors over the past 83 iterations of the Venice Film Festival." He also thanked the jury and Martin McDonagh, saying, "Thank you to the jury for bestowing this honour upon me, and thank you, Martin McDonagh, for writing this lovely screenplay and for your superb directing of it, and for gifting me with this fantastic role."

Special Jury Prize for "NAZA"

The special jury prize was awarded to the documentary "NAZA," which explores the Israeli Defense Forces' assault on Gaza. The film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, features testimony from 24 Israeli military insiders, including intelligence officers and soldiers, who provide insight into the war in Gaza and the systemic killing of Palestinian civilians. As Abraham said, "It's honestly not very easy to stand here, thinking of all the people, the Israeli politicians, the journalists back home who are attacking this film, denying it without even seeing it. And so much is being done as to not look at reality."

Awards and Winners

The full list of winners at the 83rd Venice Film Festival includes:

Category	Winner
Golden Lion	Woman Unknown, directed by May el-Toukhy
Volpi Cup for Best Actor	John Malkovich, for his performance in Wild Horse Nine
Volpi Cup for Best Actress	Mathilde Arcel, for her performance in Woman Unknown
Special Jury Prize	NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor
Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize	Possible Love, directed by Lee Chang-dong
Silver Lion for Best Director	Ilya Krzhanovsky, for his film Dau
Best Screenplay	Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo, and Olivier Gorce, for their film A Good Little Soldier
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Emerging Actor	Malou Khebizi, for her role in A Place to Heal

Jury and Festival

The jury for the 83rd Venice Film Festival was led by Maggie Gyllenhaal and included directors Kaouther Ben Hania, Xavier Giannoli, Shahrbanoo Sadat, and Johnnie To, alongside composer Daniel Blumberg. The festival, which was founded in 1932, is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world and has launched the careers of many notable filmmakers and actors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Golden Lion award?

The Golden Lion is the top prize awarded at the Venice Film Festival, given to the best film in competition.

Who won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor?

John Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in Wild Horse Nine.

What is the documentary "NAZA" about?

The documentary "NAZA" explores the Israeli Defense Forces' assault on Gaza and features testimony from 24 Israeli military insiders.

The 83rd Venice Film Festival has come to a close, but the impact of the winners will be felt for months to come. With the Golden Lion award, May el-Toukhy's "Woman Unknown" has cemented its place as one of the most important films of the year, and John Malkovich's win has set him up as a strong contender for the Oscars. The special jury prize for "NAZA" has also brought attention to the important and timely documentary, and its impact will likely be felt in the months to come. As the film industry looks to the future, the winners of the 83rd Venice Film Festival will be ones to watch.