Golden Lion Venice 2026: Danish Director

Alongside the main prize, further key categories were awarded. John Malkovich received the prize for best actor for his role in "Wild Horse Nine." The jury thus honored a performance by the American, who has been active in international productions for decades.

Political Words on Stage

May el-Toukhy herself used the stage to draw attention to the suffering in the Gaza Strip. In her acceptance speech, she formulated the appeal: "Erhebe deine Stimme für diejenigen, die im Stich gelassen und zum Schweigen gebracht wurden." The speech was received with long applause.

Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor also caused a stir with their documentary. The film contains anonymized interviews with 24 Israeli intelligence operatives, who provide detailed insights into their operations. The production triggered intense debates during the festival about press freedom and responsibility in documentary filmmaking.

Further Awards of the Evening

Among the other award winners was Danish screenwriter Mathilde Arcel, who received an award for her work on el-Toukhy's film. Ilja Chrschanowski and Dau were also honored in further categories. American actress Maggie Gyllenhaal participated in the awards as a jury member.

The 2026 ceremony stood in the sign of a politically charged edition of the festival. Several awarded works dealt with conflicts, surveillance, and the role of intelligence services in democratic societies. The festival leadership emphasized that the submitted films reflected the diversity of international perspectives.

With the presentation of the Golden Lion, the international festival circuit also comes to an end that for many productions marks the kickoff of the Oscar season. For May el-Toukhy, the success in Venice is likely to significantly increase attention for upcoming projects.

Significance for the European Film Industry

Industry observers see the award as a signal to the European film industry not to shy away from complex social themes. The combination of artistic quality and political relevance tipped the scales this year, according to industry circles.

The festival, founded in 1932, belongs alongside Cannes and Berlin to the three major European film festivals. With the 2026 presentation, Venice remains true to its tradition of awarding works that set new standards both formally and in terms of content.