Home · Entertainment · Sep 25 archive
Denmark Selects 'Woman Unknown' for Oscar International Feature Race
Confirmed
In Short: May El-Toukhy’s film 'Woman Unknown' has been selected as Denmark’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
The Golden Lion-winning title, directed by El-Toukhy from a screenplay co-written with Maren Louise Käehne, has garnered significant international attention following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Nordisk Film Distribution is handling the film’s domestic release in Denmark, while TrustNordisk is managing international sales.
Woman Unknown' has secured distribution deals in over 50 territories, including Italy, Benelux, Latin America, Greece, the Baltics, France, Spain, Poland, Portugal, the former Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria.
The film’s festival run continues with screenings at the BFI London Film Festival, Riga International Film Festival, and Busan International Film Festival.
El-Toukhy’s third feature film explores themes of guilt, shame, and morality, focusing on the societal condemnation and control of women’s bodies and destinies.
The Danish Film Institute, Eurimages, and other European film funds provided support for the production.
El-Toukhy previously directed 'Queen of Hearts,' which won the Audience Award at Sundance and received both Robert and Bodil Awards in Denmark.
Denmark has a strong track record in the international feature category, having won in 2021 with 'Another Round' and in 2011 with 'In A Better World.
El-Toukhy’s win at the Venice Film Festival is a significant milestone, as she is only the eighth woman to have won the festival's top prize.
What this adds
The film's selection for the Oscars comes after recent rule changes that automatically qualify Golden Lion winners for consideration.
Woman Unknown' was the only feature film in the Venice competition lineup directed by a woman, drawing attention to gender disparities in the film industry.
Background
Denmark is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark, also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the north Atlantic Ocean.
What's confirmed
- Nordisk Film Distribution is distributing in Denmark, while TrustNordisk is handling international sales.
- Denmark has selected May el-Toukhy ’s Golden Lion-winning title Woman Unknown as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
What's still developing
- The film has sold to Memento for France, as well as Spain (Karma Films), Poland (Best Film), Portugal (Nitrato Filmes), the former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film) and Bulgaria (Beta Film).
- FNE’s objectives include VISIBILITY for the region and AUDIENCES for films by providing a special focus on the region.
- Sales agent mK2 said the film has sold to over 50 theatrical territories.
- The film is written by el-Toukhy and Maren Louise Kaehne, and produced by Mikael Rieks for Nordisk Film Production, with Nafta Films, Nordisk Film Production Sweden and Film i Väst.
- Support comes from the Danish Film Institute, Eurimages - Council of Europe, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Riga City Council, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, DR, the Swedish Film Institute, SVT, LIAA, Riga Film Fund, TrustNordisk and Zentropa.
- El-Toukhy then directed episodes of the Emmy-winning series “The Crown” and was one of the initiators of Dogma25, launched during the Cannes Film Festival in 2025.
- Dreyer’s Ordet in 1955.” Popular on Variety Fischer described “Woman Unknown” as a “bold and uncompromising film that explores guilt, shame and morality, showing how women’s bodies and destinies become the focus of society’s condemnation and control.” “It is a film that offers no easy answers but dares to ask difficult and important questions.
- Produced by Mikael Christian Rieks for Nordisk Film Production, “Woman Unknown” is supported by the Danish Film Institute and will be released in Danish cinemas on Feb.
- Related video above | John Malkovich discusses his new movie at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival “I am humbled to be chosen for this award which has been given to so many wonderful actors,” Malkovich said.
- “To me personally, ‘Woman Unknown’ is about the female body as a battleground,” el-Toukhy said.
- “This is my first lead role in a movie and my first time at a film festival,” she said.
- “It is really, really especially important to us that Israelis watch this film,” Abraham said.