The 83rd Venice International Film Festival concluded its 2026 run on September 12 at the Venice Lido in Italy, celebrating top achievements in global cinema. While some films scored big at this year's ceremony, here's a look at the complete winners list. The Danish drama Woman Unknown, actress Mathilde Arcel, and actor Pierfrancesco Favino are among the biggest winners so far.<h2>Complete winner list of Venice International Film Festival 2026</h2>Golden Lion – Woman Unknown directed ​by May el-Toukhy&nbsp;Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize – Possible Love directed by Lee ​Chang-dong&nbsp;Silver Lion – Best Director- Ilya ​Khrzhanovsky for DAU&nbsp;Coppa Volpi for Best Actress- Mathilde ‌Arcel for Woman Unknown&nbsp;Coppa Volpi for Best Actor – John Malkovich for Wild Horse Nine&nbsp;Best Screenplay- Stephane ​Brize, Coralie ​Amedeo, ⁠Olivier Gorce for A Good Little ​Soldier&nbsp;Special Jury Prize – NAZA directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor&nbsp;Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress – Malou Khebizi for A Place to Heal&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rohit-chandel-shares-first-post-with-spiritual-message-after-bail-in-pocso-case-1789284345361">TV actor Rohit Chandel shares first post after bail in POCSO case</a><h3>Orizzonti Awards</h3>Best Film – Diane in the Loop, directed by Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni&nbsp;Best Director – Jacqueline Lentzau for A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra&nbsp;Special Jury Prize – House of the Wind, directed by Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu&nbsp;Best Actress – Laleh Marzban for Falling House&nbsp;Best Actor – Riccardo Scamarcio for The Children of the Monkey&nbsp;Best Screenplay – Tommaso Landucci and Damiano Femfert for The Children of the Monkey&nbsp;Best Short Film – A Few Moments of Happiness, directed by Shaden Safieddine Tazi&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/seventeen-s-hoshi-injured-during-military-rehearsal-to-undergo-acl-surgery-1789294559267">SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi injured during military rehearsal, to undergo ACL surgery</a><h3>Other Official Awards</h3>Lion of the Future- Luigi De Laurentiis&nbsp;Venice Award for a Debut Film – House of the Wind, directed by Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu&nbsp;Armani Beauty Audience Award: I Matter directed by Alina Șerban&nbsp;Venice Classics Award for Best Restored Film – Long Night of 1943, directed by Florestano Vancini&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/78th-emmy-awards-2026-date-time-host-and-where-to-watch-tv-s-biggest-awards-night-1789295802773">78th Emmy Awards 2026: Date, time, host and where to watch TV’s biggest awards night</a>&nbsp;Venice Immersive Grand Prize – The Pigeon Ring, directed by Shixin Tao and Yuqi Zhang&nbsp;Venice Immersive Special Jury Prize – Out of the Ashes, directed by Rory Mitchell and Nonny De La Peña&nbsp;Venice Immersive Achievement Prize- Empire at Sea, directed by Peter Flaherty&nbsp;Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/celine-dion-makes-emotional-stage-comeback-after-six-years-i-m-so-delighted-to-see-you-1789285331543">Celine Dion makes emotional stage comeback after six years</a>&nbsp;The Lifetime Achievement for the 83rd International Venice Film Festival was honoured by American actor, director, and producer George Clooney at the opening ceremony on September 2, and acclaimed American actress Ellen Burstyn, who received hers on September 7.<h2>Where did the Venice Film Festival 2026 take place?</h2>The opening and closing ceremonies took place on the stage of the Sala Grande inside the Palazzo del Cinema at the Venice Lido in Italy. Running from September 2 to September 12, the awards honoured the top cinematic achievements selected by an international jury led by Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival ended with May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown winning the prestigious Golden Lion. Here is the full list of winners from the festival.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival concluded its 2026 run on September 12 at the Venice Lido in Italy, celebrating top achievements in global cinema. While some films scored big at this year's ceremony, here's a look at the complete winners list. The Danish drama Woman Unknown, actress Mathilde Arcel, and actor Pierfrancesco Favino are among the biggest winners so far. Complete winner list of Venice International Film Festival 2026 Golden Lion – Woman Unknown directed by May el-Toukhy Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize – Possible Love directed by Lee Chang-dong Silver Lion – Best Director- Ilya Khrzhanovsky for DAU Coppa Volpi for Best Actress- Mathilde ‌Arcel for Woman Unknown Coppa Volpi for Best Actor – John Malkovich for Wild Horse Nine Best Screenplay- Stephane Brize, Coralie Amedeo, ⁠Olivier Gorce for A Good Little Soldier Special Jury Prize – NAZA directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress – Malou Khebizi for A Place to Heal Also Read: TV actor Rohit Chandel shares first post after bail in POCSO case Orizzonti Awards Best Film – Diane in the Loop, directed by Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni Best Director – Jacqueline Lentzau for A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra Special Jury Prize – House of the Wind, directed by 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 and Damiano Femfert for The Children of the Monkey Best Short Film – A Few Moments of Happiness, directed by Shaden Safieddine Tazi Also Read: SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi injured during military rehearsal, to undergo ACL surgery Other Official Awards Lion of the Future- Luigi De Laurentiis Venice Award for a Debut Film – House of the Wind, directed by Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu Armani Beauty Audience Award: I Matter directed by Alina Șerban Venice Classics Award for Best Restored Film – Long Night of 1943, directed by Florestano Vancini Also Read: 78th Emmy Awards 2026: Date, time, host and where to watch TV’s biggest awards night Venice Immersive Grand Prize – The Pigeon Ring, directed by Shixin Tao and Yuqi Zhang Venice Immersive Special Jury Prize – Out of the Ashes, directed by Rory Mitchell and Nonny De La Peña Venice Immersive Achievement Prize- Empire at Sea, directed by Peter Flaherty Also Read: Celine Dion makes emotional stage comeback after six years The Lifetime Achievement for the 83rd International Venice Film Festival was honoured by American actor, director, and producer George Clooney at the opening ceremony on September 2, and acclaimed American actress Ellen Burstyn, who received hers on September 7. Where did the Venice Film Festival 2026 take place? The opening and closing ceremonies took place on the stage of the Sala Grande inside the Palazzo del Cinema at the Venice Lido in Italy. Running from September 2 to September 12, the awards honoured the top cinematic achievements selected by an international jury led by Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival ended with May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown winning the prestigious Golden Lion. Here is the full list of winners from the festival.

Venice Film Festival 2026: May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown wins Golden Lion | Full list inside

The Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with few Hollywood productions but plenty of indie gems, heavy-hitting documentaries and A-listers.&nbsp;AFP picks the films, the issues and the personalities that are likely to attract the most attention during one of the world's most glamourous film events, which runs until September 12.&nbsp;<h2>- Murdoch biopic -</h2>&nbsp;The festival and main competition starts with a promising opener by British "Trainspotting" and "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle who is premiering his latest movie "Ink" about right-wing media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.&nbsp;Australia-born Murdoch, the 95-year-old Fox News owner, has been the subject of several new biographies recently and a dramatisation of his family's internal battles in hit HBO series "Succession".&nbsp;Boyle focuses on his arrival in the UK media industry in 1969 when he purchased The Sun tabloid.<h2>- 'Musk' -</h2>&nbsp;Oscar-winning documentary maker Alex Gibney, whose previous films chronicled US military abuse and corruption, has turned his attention to the world's richest man, Elon Musk.&nbsp;"Hit piece for sure. Gibney is incapable of anything else," the billionaire wrote on X last month of the nearly four-hour film titled "Musk".&nbsp;<h2>- Robert Pattinson -</h2>&nbsp;Robert Pattinson will be one of the biggest names on the Venice Lido this year, with the "Batman" and "The Odyssey" star appearing in "Primetime" by Lance Oppenheim.&nbsp;It is based on the real-life story of American TV show "To Catch a Predator" that sought to expose paedophiles, with Pattinson set to play presenter Chris Hansen.&nbsp;Hollywood favourite George Clooney will also add some stardust when he picks up a lifetime achievement Golden Lion award alongside Ellen Burstyn ("The Exorcist",&nbsp;"Interstellar").&nbsp;<h2>- Studios and streamers -</h2>&nbsp;American industry behemoths -- the Hollywood studios and streamers Netflix and Amazon -- turned up en masse in Venice in 2025 with a slate of pretty underwhelming movies.&nbsp;They are skipping this year's edition, extending a trend seen at Europe's other two biggest film events in 2026, the Berlin and Cannes festivals, where they also shunned organisers.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Indie and arthouse -&nbsp;Hollywood's absence will leave more attention and eyeballs for some of the strong independently produced movies on offer.&nbsp;These include "Wild Horse Nine", a dark comedy by Ireland's Martin McDonagh starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, "Company" by Casey Affleck, as well as "Bucking Fastard" by German veteran Werner Herzog, featuring sisters Kate Mara and Rooney Mara.&nbsp;Two of Asia's acclaimed filmmakers, Japan's Hirokazu Koreeda and South Korea's Lee Chang-dong, are also in the main competition with their latest "Look Back" and "Possible Love".&nbsp;<h2>- Manchester's finest -</h2>&nbsp;The oft-feuding Oasis rock'n'roll brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are set to light up the Lido to promote a documentary about their sold-out comeback tour last year.&nbsp;"Don't Look Back in Anger" promises a behind-the-scenes look at the Oasis mania sparked by the reunion, produced by Steven Knight, the creator of the "Peaky Blinders" series.&nbsp;<h2>- Palestine -</h2>&nbsp;A new documentary called "NAZA" from two of the directors of Oscar-winning Israeli-Palestinian production "No Other Land" is one of several films in Venice about Israel's war in Gaza.&nbsp;Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor explore Israel's AI-assisted targeting systems in Gaza where an estimated 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.&nbsp;Other documentaries on the conflict include "Citizen Osama" about a photojournalist in Gaza, while "Road to Jericho" by Israeli director Amos Gitai documents Jewish extremist settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.&nbsp;<h2>- Men's club -</h2>&nbsp;Venice supremo Alberto Barbera prompted a backlash by selecting just one film by a woman director in the initial 20-strong main competition announced in July -- the appropriately titled "Woman Unknown" by May El-Toukhy.&nbsp;The quality of submissions from women directors "was not enough to put them into the competition," he argued -- which led to an open letter from campaign and industry groups.&nbsp;The late addition of "NAZA" improved the gender balanced very slightly -- it is co-directed by a woman.&nbsp;<h2>- Spanish power couple -</h2>&nbsp;For fans of Spain's power couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, French director Florian Zeller's latest movie "Bunker" is a must-see.&nbsp;The real-life couple, who got together on the set of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in 2008, play partners in a faltering marriage whose relationship is tested by a lucrative professional project for a billionaire played by Paul Dano.

With Hollywood taking a backseat, the Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, driven by indie highlights, powerful documentaries, and major star power.

The Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with few Hollywood productions but plenty of indie gems, heavy-hitting documentaries and A-listers. AFP picks the films, the issues and the personalities that are likely to attract the most attention during one of the world's most glamourous film events, which runs until September 12. - Murdoch biopic - The festival and main competition starts with a promising opener by British "Trainspotting" and "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle who is premiering his latest movie "Ink" about right-wing media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Australia-born Murdoch, the 95-year-old Fox News owner, has been the subject of several new biographies recently and a dramatisation of his family's internal battles in hit HBO series "Succession". Boyle focuses on his arrival in the UK media industry in 1969 when he purchased The Sun tabloid. - 'Musk' - Oscar-winning documentary maker Alex Gibney, whose previous films chronicled US military abuse and corruption, has turned his attention to the world's richest man, Elon Musk. "Hit piece for sure. Gibney is incapable of anything else," the billionaire wrote on X last month of the nearly four-hour film titled "Musk". - Robert Pattinson - Robert Pattinson will be one of the biggest names on the Venice Lido this year, with the "Batman" and "The Odyssey" star appearing in "Primetime" by Lance Oppenheim. It is based on the real-life story of American TV show "To Catch a Predator" that sought to expose paedophiles, with Pattinson set to play presenter Chris Hansen. Hollywood favourite George Clooney will also add some stardust when he picks up a lifetime achievement Golden Lion award alongside Ellen Burstyn ("The Exorcist", "Interstellar"). - Studios and streamers - American industry behemoths -- the Hollywood studios and streamers Netflix and Amazon -- turned up en masse in Venice in 2025 with a slate of pretty underwhelming movies. They are skipping this year's edition, extending a trend seen at Europe's other two biggest film events in 2026, the Berlin and Cannes festivals, where they also shunned organisers. - Indie and arthouse - Hollywood's absence will leave more attention and eyeballs for some of the strong independently produced movies on offer. These include "Wild Horse Nine", a dark comedy by Ireland's Martin McDonagh starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, "Company" by Casey Affleck, as well as "Bucking Fastard" by German veteran Werner Herzog, featuring sisters Kate Mara and Rooney Mara. Two of Asia's acclaimed filmmakers, Japan's Hirokazu Koreeda and South Korea's Lee Chang-dong, are also in the main competition with their latest "Look Back" and "Possible Love". - Manchester's finest - The oft-feuding Oasis rock'n'roll brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are set to light up the Lido to promote a documentary about their sold-out comeback tour last year. "Don't Look Back in Anger" promises a behind-the-scenes look at the Oasis mania sparked by the reunion, produced by Steven Knight, the creator of the "Peaky Blinders" series. - Palestine - A new documentary called "NAZA" from two of the directors of Oscar-winning Israeli-Palestinian production "No Other Land" is one of several films in Venice about Israel's war in Gaza. Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor explore Israel's AI-assisted targeting systems in Gaza where an estimated 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Other documentaries on the conflict include "Citizen Osama" about a photojournalist in Gaza, while "Road to Jericho" by Israeli director Amos Gitai documents Jewish extremist settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. - Men's club - Venice supremo Alberto Barbera prompted a backlash by selecting just one film by a woman director in the initial 20-strong main competition announced in July -- the appropriately titled "Woman Unknown" by May El-Toukhy. The quality of submissions from women directors "was not enough to put them into the competition," he argued -- which led to an open letter from campaign and industry groups. The late addition of "NAZA" improved the gender balanced very slightly -- it is co-directed by a woman. - Spanish power couple - For fans of Spain's power couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, French director Florian Zeller's latest movie "Bunker" is a must-see. The real-life couple, who got together on the set of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in 2008, play partners in a faltering marriage whose relationship is tested by a lucrative professional project for a billionaire played by Paul Dano.

With Hollywood taking a backseat, the Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, driven by indie highlights, powerful documentaries, and major star power.

Venice Film Festival 2026: Indie gems, star power, and controversy lead a Hollywood-light lineup

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Venice Film Festival 2026: May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown wins Golden Lion | Full list inside

Venice Film Festival 2026: Top Films, Stars, and Controversies to Watch