Venice Film Festival 2025 In Photos: The Red Carpet Premieres & Closing Ceremony Winners
Venice Film Festival 2025 In Photos: The Red Carpet Premieres & Closing Ceremony Winners
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Venice 2026 Winners: May El-Toukhy’s ‘Woman Unknown’ Wins Golden Lion For Best Film
By Robert Lang
Robert Lang
Photo Editor/Arts & Culture Writer
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September 12, 2026 12:00pm
Danish director May El-Toukhy receives the Golden Lion for Best Film for "Kvinde Ukendt" (Woman unknown) during the closing ceremony of the 63rd Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido on September 12, 2026. Getty Images
The 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival concludes today with the Closing Ceremony and presentation of the winners of the Lions.
The 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival concludes today with the Closing Ceremony and presentation of the winners of the Lions. Director May el-Toukhy took home the coveted Golden Lion for her film Woman Unknown, while Mathilde Arcel was honored as Best Actress for her performance in Woman Unknown, and John Malkovich received the Best Actor award for Wild Horse Nine.
The jury for the main competition, which decided the coveted Golden Lion for Best Film, was led by president Maggie Gyllenhaal. She was joined by an international panel of filmmakers and artists, including Kaouther Ben Hania, Daniel Blumberg, Francesco Casetti, Xavier Giannoli, Shahrbanoo Sadat, and Johnnie To.
RELATED: Venice Film Festival 2026: Read All Of Deadline’s Reviews
Marking its 83rd run, the festival continued to showcase its influence by generating buzz for potential Oscar nominations leading up to awards season. The Competition lineup featured 21 films, including titles from Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard, Lance Oppenheim’s Robert Pattinson-led thriller Primetime, Andrea Pallaoro’s, and Florian Zeller’s Bunker, starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
Beyond the main competition, the lineup 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’ architectural study From Inside Out – The Architecture of Peter Zumthor; Russell Crowe’s directorial effort What Love Builds; Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s NAZA and Luca Guadagnino’s doc Joie De Vivre.
This year, the festival bestowed its prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement upon George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn, with Luca Guadagnino receiving the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker 2026 Award.
The festival ran from September 2nd to September 12th and closed with director Giovanni Veronesi’s Dio ride (God Laughs).
Click through the gallery to see all the atmosphere from the red carpet and more.
Photo : Getty Images
2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Danish director May El-Toukhy receives the Golden Lion for Best Film for “Kvinde Ukendt” (Woman unknown) during the closing ceremony of the 63rd Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido on September 12, 2026.
Photo : Getty Images
2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Lee Chang-dong receives the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize for “Possible Love” (Ga-neung-han sa-rang) during the closing ceremony of the 63rd Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido on September 12, 2026.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky receives the Silver Lion for Best Director for “Dau” during the closing ceremony of the 63rd Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido on September 12, 2026.
Photo : Getty Images
2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor receive Special Jury Prize Award for “Naza” during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
Photo : Getty Images
2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Kouemo Auguste Bernard (R) receives the Lion of the Future – Luigi De Laurentiis Venice Award for a Debut Film for “La maison du vent (House of the wind)” during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Alina Serban receives the Armani Beauty Audience Award for “Eu Contez (I Matter)” during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Ann Sirot and Raphael Balboni receive the Orizzonti Award for Best Film for “Un détour par Diane” (Diane in the loop) during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Peter Flaherty receives Venice Immersive Achievement Award at the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Rory Mitchell (2nd L) and Dr. Anna Maria “Nonny” de la Peña (2nd R) receive Venice Immersive Special Jury Prize for “Out of the Ashes” attends the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Shixin Tao and Yuqi Zhang receive Venice Immersive Grand Prize for “The Pigeon Ring” during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Gian Luca Farinelli receives Venice Classics Best Restored Film Award during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Shaden Safieddine Tazi receives Orizzonti Best Short Film Award during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Damiano Femfert and Tommaso Landucci receive Orizzonti Best Screenplay Award for “I Figli Della Scimmia” during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Laleh Marzban receives Orizzonti Best Actress Award for “Moragheb (Falling House)” during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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2026 Closing Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Riccardo Scamarcio receives the Orizzonti Best Actor Award for “I Figli Della Scimmia” during the 2026 Closing Ceremony for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 12, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
Photo : Getty Images
“Naza” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor attend the “Naza” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 10, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Naza” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
(L-R) Jonathan Glazer, Rachel Szor, Yuval Abraham, James Wilson, a guest, Ekaterina Ochagavia and a guest attend the “Naza” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 10, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
Photo : Getty Images
“Place To Be” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
(L-R) Pamela Anderson, Kornél Mundruczó, Taika Waititi and Murray Bartlett attend the “Place To Be” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 09, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Place To Be” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Cast and crew attend the “Place To Be” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 09, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Place To Be” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Pamela Anderson attends the “Place To Be” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 09, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Place To Be” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Pamela Anderson attends the “Place To Be” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 09, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Place To Be” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Taika Waititi attends the “Place To Be” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 09, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Place To Be” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Murray Bartlett
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“Dau” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Radmila Shchogolieva (L), Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky and Maria Nafpliotou attend the red carpet event for the screening of “Dau” presented in competition at the 83rd International Venice Film Festival, at Venice Lido on September 9, 2026.
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“Dau” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Marina Abramović
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“Dau” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Cast and crew attend the red carpet event for the screening of “Dau” directed by Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky (6thL) and presented in competition at the 83rd International Venice Film Festival, at Venice Lido on September 9, 2026.
Photo : Getty Images
“Dau” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Michèle Lamy and Youssef Nabil
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“Bunker” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
(L-R) Stephen Graham, Paul Dano, Penélope Cruz, Florian Zeller, Javier Bardem and Patrick Schwarzenegger attend the “Bunker” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Bunker” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz
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“Bunker” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Javier Bardem
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The 83rd Venice International Film Festival – Premieres
Paul Dano at the “Bunker” premiere at The 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images)
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“Bunker” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Patrick Schwarzenegger attends the “Bunker” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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The 83rd Venice International Film Festival – Premieres
Maggie Gyllenhaal at the “Bunker” premiere at The 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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“Bunker” Screening – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Luca Guadagnino attends the “Bunker” Screening during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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Cartier Glory To The Filmmaker Award 2026 – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Luca Guadagnino receives the Cartier Glory To The Filmmaker Award 2026 during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Casino on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy
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Cartier Glory To The Filmmaker Award 2026 – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Rodolphe Ratze, Luca Guadagnino and Festival Director Alberto Barbera attend the Cartier Glory To The Filmmaker Award 2026 during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Casino on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy
Photo : Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival – Photocalls
Alex Gibney at the “Musk” premiere at The 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
Photo : Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival – Photocalls
Zoë Schiffer, Alex Gibney, Alberto Barbera and Ashley St. Clair at the “Musk” premiere at The 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 08, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
Photo : Michael Buckner/PMC
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival – Premieres
Ellen Burstyn at the Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement Award to Ellen Burstyn at The 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 07, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
Photo : Michael Buckner/PMC
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival – Premieres
Ellen Burstyn at the Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement Award to Ellen Burstyn at The 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 07, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
Photo : Michael Buckner/PMC
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival – Premieres
Ellen Burstyn and Pietrangelo Buttafuoco at the Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement Award to Ellen Burstyn at The 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 07, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement Award to Ellen Burstyn Ceremony – The 83rd Venice International Film Festival
Ellen Burstyn (L) receives from President of the Venice Biennale Foundation Pietrangelo Buttafuoco (R) the Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement Award to Ellen Burstyn Ceremony during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 07, 2026 in Venice, Italy.
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