Los Angeles, September 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Hollywood actress-director Maggie Gyllenhaal has defended the Venice Film Festival jury’s decision to award the Golden Lion to Woman Unknown, directed by Danish filmmaker May el-Toukhy, rejecting suggestions that the honour was intended as a political statement because the film was made by a woman.
Gyllenhaal, who served as president of the Venice jury, addressed the issue at a press conference after the film’s win. Responding sarcastically to the suggestion that the jury may have favoured the film because of its female director, she said she had not simply awarded it because “it’s made by a woman”.
Gyllenhaal said she had anticipated the question and acknowledged that, just as with films directed by men, there are movies made by women that she does not like. She stressed that every jury member has one vote and that decisions at the festival involve complex discussions and extensive deliberation.
“I think I’m tired of talking about this same subject over and over. I will continue to do it,” Gyllenhaal said, while adding that she wanted to focus on celebrating a film she considered exceptionally well made.
The jury, besides Gyllenhaal, included The Voice of Hind Rajab director Kaouther Ben Hania, Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, French director and screenwriter Xavier Giannoli, The Brutalist composer Daniel Blumberg and Italian film academic Francesco Casetti.
The only other film in competition directed by women was NAZA, an Israeli narrative feature about Palestine, co-directed by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham.
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