Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Gyllenhaal Defends Woman Unknown’s Golden Lion Jury Decision
Maggie Gyllenhaal led the jury at the Venice film festival.
The jury gave its top prize, the Golden Lion, to Woman Unknown.
That movie was directed by May el-Toukhy.
Some people wondered if it won mainly because a woman directed it.
Gyllenhaal said that was not true.
She said the jury carefully discussed the movie and judged it as a film.
The jury also gave its best-actress award to Mathilde Arcel from the same movie.
Another film made by women, NAZA, won the Special Jury Prize.
Maggie Gyllenhaal said Woman Unknown won on its merits, not because it was directed by a woman.
May el-Toukhy’s film was the only entry solely directed by a woman in competition.
The jury unanimously awarded Woman Unknown star Mathilde Arcel the Volpi Cup for best actress.
NAZA, co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won the Special Jury Prize.
Gyllenhaal said the jury’s decisions followed extensive discussion and were not political statements.
- Who
- Maggie Gyllenhaal, May el-Toukhy, Mathilde Arcel, and the jury of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
- What
- The jury awarded the Golden Lion to Woman Unknown and defended the decision as based on the film’s quality.
- When
- At the 82nd Venice International Film Festival awards ceremony and subsequent press conference.
- Where
- The Venice International Film Festival.
- Why
- Gyllenhaal said the jury selected Woman Unknown after extensive discussion and not as a political statement about women filmmakers.
Representation-Based Interpretation
Artistic-Merit Defense
Why Woman Unknown won
Representation-Based Interpretation
The film’s win could be viewed as connected to the festival’s concern about the limited number of women filmmakers in competition.
Artistic-Merit Defense
Gyllenhaal rejected that interpretation, saying the jury chose the film because of its quality after extensive discussion.
Role of gender in judging
Representation-Based Interpretation
The film’s status as the only entry solely directed by a woman made gender representation part of the public discussion around the award.
Artistic-Merit Defense
Gyllenhaal said films should not be favored simply because they are made by women, noting that she dislikes some films directed by women just as she dislikes some directed by men.
- Golden Lion
- Woman Unknown, directed by May el-Toukhy
- Best Actress
- Mathilde Arcel won the Volpi Cup for Woman Unknown
- Special Jury Prize
- NAZA, co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor
- Jury President
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Other women-directed entry
- NAZA was the only other competition film involving a woman director
- Jury’s explanation
- Gyllenhaal said the awards followed complicated discussions among jury members