A powerful Israeli documentary that drew one of the strongest reactions of the 83rd Venice Film Festival was edged out of the top honour after Danish filmmaker May el-Toukhy’s A Woman Unknown won the Golden Lion.
The documentary NAZA, directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, instead received the festival’s special jury prize after generating intense discussion and a lengthy standing ovation during its premiere.
Its early award effectively ruled it out of contention for the Golden Lion later in the ceremony, surprising many observers who had considered it one of the festival’s strongest entries.
Documentary Draws Strong Festival Reaction
NAZA was filmed in secrecy over three years, largely on rooftops in Tel Aviv at night.
The film features testimony from 24 Israeli military insiders discussing aspects of the war in Gaza and making serious allegations about the treatment and killing of Palestinian civilians.
The title comes from an acronym used in relation to non-combatants killed during military operations targeting suspected Hamas figures.
The documentary explores surveillance practices, targeting systems and the moral consequences of military decision-making.
Several soldiers describe experiences that left them questioning the impact of operations on civilians and their own role in those actions.
Because the claims are highly sensitive and politically contested, the film has already attracted criticism in Israel, including from people who reject its conclusions.
Filmmakers Defend the Project
After receiving the special jury prize, Abraham said the filmmakers hoped Israelis would watch the documentary rather than dismissing it without seeing it.
He acknowledged the controversy surrounding the project and said the reaction at home had made presenting the film internationally especially difficult.
The documentary was created by filmmakers connected to No Other Land, which previously received major international recognition.
NAZA became one of the most talked-about films of this year’s festival because of both its subject matter and the emotional response it generated from audiences.
Danish Drama Claims Golden Lion
The Golden Lion ultimately went to A Woman Unknown, directed by Denmark’s May el-Toukhy.
Set in Denmark shortly after the Second World War, the film follows a live-in nanny preparing to marry her older employer.
Her future is threatened when details emerge about an earlier relationship with a German soldier.
The drama examines reputation, gender, social expectations and the treatment of women in the aftermath of war.
El-Toukhy said the film explored the female body as a site of conflict while also focusing on women whose experiences are often ignored or silenced.
Her victory made her only the eighth woman to win Venice’s top prize.
Mathilde Arcel Wins Best Actress
Mathilde Arcel, who plays the central character in A Woman Unknown, received the Volpi Cup for best actress.
The award marked a major breakthrough for Arcel, who said the film was her first leading role and her first experience attending a film festival.
Her performance was widely praised for capturing the pressure placed on a woman whose private history threatens her social standing.
John Malkovich Takes Best Actor Prize
Veteran actor John Malkovich won the best actor award for his performance in Martin McDonagh’s dark CIA comedy Wild Horse Nine.
Malkovich accepted the honour through a video message because he was working in Montreal.
He described the recognition as humbling, particularly because the award has previously been given to many acclaimed actors.
Lee Chang-dong Wins Silver Lion
South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong received the Silver Lion for Possible Love.
The film examines the relationship between a working-class woman whose husband loses his job and a wealthy filmmaker documenting the lives of dismissed workers.
The drama explores inequality, labour, economic transformation and weakening social connections.
Lee said the film was intended to question the role of cinema during a period in which traditional ideas about work and human relationships are changing.
Other Major Awards Announced
French filmmaker Stephane Brize’s A Good Little Soldier won the screenplay award.
The film follows a human resources manager attempting to deal with allegations of systematic workplace bullying.
The directing prize went to Russian-born filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky for DAU, an ambitious project inspired by Soviet physicist Lev Landau.
The production took more than two decades to complete and involved an unusually immersive filmmaking process in which performers reportedly lived as their characters inside a specially constructed environment.
Meanwhile, newcomer Malou Khebizi received the prize for best young actor for her performance in Cedric Khan’s A Place to Heal, a film centred on a residential facility for troubled young people.
Festival Ends With Politics and War in Focus
The 2026 Venice Film Festival awards reflected a competition dominated by films exploring war, identity, social inequality, labour and political responsibility.
Although NAZA did not take the Golden Lion, its special jury prize and the strong audience reaction ensured it remained one of the festival’s most discussed films.
Meanwhile, A Woman Unknown emerged as the event’s top winner, giving May el-Toukhy a landmark victory and reinforcing the prominence of female-led stories at one of world cinema’s most prestigious festivals.
