May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown won the Golden Lion for best film at Venice Film Festival.
Scroll down for full list of winners
The ceremony was hosted by Italian actors Greta Scarano and Nicolas Maupas. A Competition jury led by US actress and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal awarded eight prizes, including the Golden Lion for best film.
Yesterday Maria Aparicio’s Argentinian film Sometimes Sadness, Sometimes Rebellion won the Director’s Award in the independent Giornate degli Autori sidebar; with Tommaso Usberti’s Before The War taking two prizes including best film in Critics’ Week.
US actors Ellen Burstyn and George Clooney both received Golden Lion awards for Lifetime Achievement at this year’s festival.
The festival closes this evening with the world premiere of Giovanni Veronesi’s Italian feature Dio Ride, playing in Venice Open – Out of Competition.
Last year’s Golden Lion for best film went to Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother.
More to follow.
Venice Film Festival 2026 winners
Competition
Golden Lion - Woman Unknown
Special Jury Prize - NAZA
Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize - Possible Love, dir. Lee Chang-dong
Silver Lion for best director - Ilya Khrzanovsky for DAU
Volpi Cup for best actress - Mathilde Arcel for Woman Unknown
Volpi Cup for best actor - John Malkovich for Wild Horse Nine
Golden Osella for best screenplay - A Good Little Soldier
Marcello Mastroianni award for emerging actor/actress - Malou Khebizi for A Place To Heal
Audience Award - I Matter, dir. Alina Şerban
Horizons
Best film - Diane In The Loop, dirs. Ann Sirot, Raphaël Balboni
Best director - Jacqueline Lentzou for A Day In The Life Of Jo: Chapter Phaedra
Special jury prize - House Of The Wind, dir. Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu
Best actress - Laleh Marzban for Falling House
Best actor - Riccardo Scamarcio for The Children Of The Monkey
Best screenplay - Tommaso Landucci, Damian Femert for The Children Of The Monkey
Best short film - A Few Moments Of Happiness, dir. Shaden Safieddine Tazi
Luigi De Laurentiis award for debut film - House Of The Wind, dir. Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu
Venice Classics
Best restored film - Long Night Of 1943, dir. Florestano Vancini
Venice Immersive
Grand Prize - The Pigeon Ring, cre. Shixin Tao, Yuqi Zhang
Special Jury Prize - Out Of The Ashes, cre. Rory Mitchell, Nonny de la Peña
Achievement Prize - Empire At Sea, cre. Peter Flaherty
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