Maggie Gyllenhaal Says Venice Jury Chose ‘Woman Unknown’ for Craft

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Venice jury awarded May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown the Golden Lion, despite the film being the only competition entry directed solely by a woman. The account is based on reporting by Variety.

At a press conference after Saturday’s ceremony, Gyllenhaal rejected the idea that the decision was intended as a political statement about women filmmakers. She said the jury’s choices involved extensive discussion and described Woman Unknown as “a beautifully made movie” that felt “like a laser beam” because of its craft.

Gyllenhaal’s jury also awarded Mathilde Arcel the Volpi Cup for best actress. Gyllenhaal said a Golden Lion winner could receive a second award when that decision was unanimous, adding that Arcel was “going to blow our socks off.”

The jury included Kaouther Ben Hania, Johnnie To, Shahrbanoo Sadat, Xavier Giannoli, Daniel Blumberg and Francesco Casetti.

The other competition film involving a woman director was NAZA, co-directed by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham. The documentary received the special jury prize. Gyllenhaal praised its “immense bravery and intelligence” and said its visual construction examined systems in a non-literal way.