At the 83rd Venice Film Festival, held September 2 to 12, 2026, the Golden Lion went to the Danish drama Woman Unknown, directed by May el-Toukhy. In a festival whose jury was led by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine was also in the running for the Golden Lion, and John Malkovich took Best Actor for his performance in it.
The Golden Lion: Woman Unknown
The winning film is a drama about a housemaid whose wartime relationship with a German soldier threatens her future. It took the prize in the festival’s main competition.
Other main awards
- Silver Lion for Best Director: Ilya Khrzhanovsky (DAU). - Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love. - Best Screenplay (Golden Osella): Stéphane Brizé’s A Good Little Soldier. - Special Jury Prize: NAZA. - Honorary Golden Lions: George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn.
A note on the acting awards
The clearest reporting names John Malkovich for Best Actor; some sources mention other names across the Volpi Cup categories. For the exact list, the festival’s official announcement is the safest reference.
Wild Horse Nine
Malkovich’s winning film, Wild Horse Nine, opens in the US and UK on November 6; see the KinoNook page for the film for details.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Golden Lion? May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown.
Who led the jury? Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Who won Best Actor? John Malkovich.
When was the festival held? September 2–12, 2026.
