The Only Woman in Venice's Competition Just Won the Golden Lion
Venice promised gender parity in 2016. In 2026, exactly one of twenty competition films was directed by a woman, and it just won the Golden Lion. A look at "Woman Unknown," May el-Toukhy's post-WWII drama, plus the rest of this year's Venice winners.
Venice Says It's "Not Political." Then It Put a Gaza Documentary in Competition.
Venice spent this week insisting it isn't political, right after briefly canceling its own jury press conference and putting a Gaza documentary from the No Other Land team in competition for the Golden Lion. Here's what actually happened, and why the festival can't have it both ways.
Venice 2026: Actors Take Over the Director's Chair
Venice's 2026 lineup has a theme: movie stars want to direct. Casey Affleck, Robert Pattinson, and a Golden Lion for George Clooney headline a stacked Lido slate, but the festival still can't crack its own gender-parity promise.