Today marks the grand finale of the 83rd Venice Film Festival with a Closing Ceremony and the announcement of the Lion award winners.
At this year’s festival, May el-Toukhy was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion for her film “Woman Unknown”. The film also brought Mathilde Arcel the Best Actress award, while John Malkovich won Best Actor for his role in “Wild Horse Nine”.
RELATED: At Venice 2026: Mathilde Arcel Receives Best Actress for ‘Woman Unknown’; John Malkovich Takes Home Best Actor for ‘Wild Horse Nine’
The selection committee for the main competition was chaired by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The jury included international filmmakers and artists such as Kaouther Ben Hania, Daniel Blumberg, Francesco Casetti, Xavier Giannoli, Shahrbanoo Sadat, and Johnnie To.
RELATED: Complete Coverage of Venice Film Festival 2026: Read All Reviews on Deadline
In its 83rd edition, the festival continued to be a significant precursor for Oscar nominations, featuring 21 films in the competition. Notable entries included Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard”, Lance Oppenheim’s thriller “Primetime” starring Robert Pattinson, and “Bunker” by Andrea Pallaoro and Florian Zeller, starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
RELATED: ‘Primetime’ at Venice Film Festival: See Red Carpet Photos of Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Phoebe Bridgers & More
Other notable films outside the main competition included Paul Schrader’s “The Basics of Philosophy” starring Jack Huston and Sofia Boutella, “Place to Be” featuring Ellen Burstyn and Pamela Anderson, Wim Wenders’ documentary “From Inside Out – The Architecture of Peter Zumthor”, Russell Crowe’s directorial venture “What Love Builds”, and “NAZA” by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, and Luca Guadagnino’s documentary “Joie De Vivre”.
This year, the festival also honored George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and Luca Guadagnino received the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker 2026 Award.
RELATED: ‘Bunker’ at Venice Film Festival: Catch Red Carpet Photos of Paul Dano, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Stephen Graham & More
The festival, which ran from September 2 to September 12, concluded with the screening of Giovanni Veronesi’s “Dio ride” (God Laughs).
Browse through the gallery to experience the red carpet highlights and more.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
