Home · Entertainment · Sep 12 archive
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Venice Jury Awards 'Woman Unknown' Golden Lion, Defends Decision
Confirmed
In Short: Maggie Gyllenhaal, presiding over the Venice Film Festival jury, defended the awarding of the Golden Lion to 'Woman Unknown,' a film directed by a woman, emphasizing its quality rather than gender.
Venice Film Festival jury head Maggie Gyllenhaal defended the awarding of the Golden Lion to 'Woman Unknown,' a film directed by Danish filmmaker May El-Toukhy, explaining that the jury's decision was based on the film's quality rather than gender. 'It doesn’t surprise me that some people would say 'Oh, did she get it?' Because that’s part of everyday life as a woman in this industry,' Gyllenhaal said in response to media questions.
The jury's unanimous decision to award the Golden Lion to 'Woman Unknown' also resulted in the film's lead actress, Danish actress Mathilde Arcel, winning the Best Actress prize. Gyllenhaal described the film as 'a brilliantly made movie that felt like a laser beam.' The film tells the story of a woman trying to rebuild her life in postwar Denmark after the Second World War.
Only two films in the Official Competition were directed by women, with 'Woman Unknown' being the sole film directed solely by a woman. Gyllenhaal, who expressed discomfort at the scarcity of films directed by women in the competition, noted that it was rare for the same film to win the top prize and an acting award. However, she explained that this can happen when the jury votes unanimously for the lead actor or actress, which was the case here.
May El-Toukhy, the director of 'Woman Unknown,' was not surprised by the win, stating, 'Well, what began as a fair complaint has ended in a full-blown vindication.' The film's success at the Venice Film Festival marks a significant moment for women in cinema, highlighting the importance of recognizing and celebrating female directors and their work.
What's confirmed
- Venice Film Festival jury head Maggie Gyllenhaal defended the awarding of the Golden Lion to 'Woman Unknown,' a film directed by Danish filmmaker May El-Toukhy, explaining that the jury's decision was based on the film's quality rather than gender. 'It doesn’t surprise me that some people would say 'Oh, did she get it?' Because that’s part of everyday life as a woman in this industry,' Gyllenhaal said in response to media questions.
- The jury's unanimous decision to award the Golden Lion to 'Woman Unknown' also resulted in the film's lead actress, Danish actress Mathilde Arcel, winning the Best Actress prize. Gyllenhaal described the film as 'a brilliantly made movie that felt like a laser beam.' The film tells the story of a woman trying to rebuild her life in postwar Denmark after the Second World War.
- Only two films in the Official Competition were directed by women, with 'Woman Unknown' being the sole film directed solely by a woman. Gyllenhaal, who expressed discomfort at the scarcity of films directed by women in the competition, noted that it was rare for the same film to win the top prize and an acting award. However, she explained that this can happen when the jury votes unanimously for the lead actor or actress, which was the case here.
- May El-Toukhy, the director of 'Woman Unknown,' was not surprised by the win, stating, 'Well, what began as a fair complaint has ended in a full-blown vindication.' The film's success at the Venice Film Festival marks a significant moment for women in cinema, highlighting the importance of recognizing and celebrating female directors and their work.
What's still developing
- Elsewhere this evening, the filmmakers behind Special Jury Prize winner Naza, the hard-hitting film about the IDF’s killing of Gazans, said they hope the film will reach an audience in Israel, before also touching on the IDF’s (Israeli Defence Force) comments criticizing the film.
- It’s being done in partnership with the Guardian…To me, it seems like an attempt to not face reality.
- He made movies that are part of the history of cinema, and he behaved like an independent producer, like the father of the movie he produces, protecting directors and creators.
- Read it all Alongside the reception for May el-Toukhy, the other great ovation of the night was for the pair of Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, winners of the Jury Special Prize.
- The Grand Jury Prize went to the magnificent Netflix production Possible love, directed by the South Korean master Lee Chang-dong.
- For its part, the Best Director Award went to the Russian dissident Ilya Khrzhanovskiy, who in the monumental DAU, of 210 minutes, offers a free approach to the figure of the Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate Lev Landau, who participated in the nuclear bomb construction project and who suffered the oppression and authoritarianism of the Soviet system.
- The Maggie Gyllenhaal-led jury announced the winners in a ceremony on Saturday night, which included a best actor prize for John Malkovich for his performance in the dark CIA comedy “Wild Horse Nine”.
- “I am humbled to be chosen for this award which has been given to so many wonderful actors,” Malkovich said.