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Venice Film Festival

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Venice Film Festival

Also known as Venice International Film Festival, the Lido

38 stories · latest Sep 8, 2026 · Celebrity, TV & Film, Music, Fashion & Beauty

Everything to know about Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival, also known as the Venice International Film Festival, is a major international film gathering held annually on the Lido in Venice, Italy. Celebrating its 83rd edition, the event serves as a premier global platform for world premieres, feature film competitions, and high-profile industry gatherings.

Recent coverage centered on the 83rd edition's top awards and discussions surrounding representation in cinema. Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal addressed the festival's gender disparity during the event, while the main competition's top honor, the Golden Lion, was awarded to May el-Toukhy's period drama Woman Unknown. The festival featured emotional world premieres, extended standing ovations, and appearances by prominent international stars and directors.

  • Coverage of the Venice Film Festival focused heavily on the intersection of red-carpet style and serious conversations regarding female representation in film.
  • News reports highlighted dramatic premiere receptions, marked by several multi-minute standing ovations, alongside major awards results.
  • The festival also functioned as a global platform for high-stakes artistic debuts and candid reflections from veteran Hollywood figures.

The Venice Film Festival shelf

Films and shows to own

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Venice Film Festival timeline

  1. Susan Sarandon & Alicia Vikander's 'The Echo Chamber' Scores 8-Minute Venice Ovation

    Sep 7, 2026

    The Echo Chamber premieres on the Lido to an eight-minute standing ovation.

    Susan Sarandon & Alicia Vikander's 'The Echo Chamber' Scores 8-Minute Venice Ovation
  2. Ellen Burstyn Tears Up Accepting Venice Golden Lion After Recent Fall

    Sep 7, 2026

    Ellen Burstyn delivers an emotional acceptance speech upon receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

    Ellen Burstyn Tears Up Accepting Venice Golden Lion After Recent Fall
  3. Penelope Cruz Comforted By Javier Bardem In Venice After 15-Minute 'Bunker' Ovation

    Sep 9, 2026

    Penélope Cruz receives a festival-record 15-minute standing ovation for the premiere of Bunker.

    Penelope Cruz Comforted By Javier Bardem In Venice After 15-Minute 'Bunker' Ovation
  4. Elon Musk Torches Oscar Winner Alex Gibney Over New Doc 'Musk'

    Sep 10, 2026

    Alex Gibney debuts his unauthorized documentary Musk at the festival, sparking online backlash from Elon Musk.

    Elon Musk Torches Oscar Winner Alex Gibney Over New Doc 'Musk'
  5. Venice Film Festival Winners: Woman Unknown Wins Golden Lion as John Malkovich Scores Best Actor

    Sep 12, 2026

    May el-Toukhy's drama Woman Unknown wins the Golden Lion as the 83rd Venice International Film Festival wraps up.

    Venice Film Festival Winners: Woman Unknown Wins Golden Lion as John Malkovich Scores Best Actor
  6. Maggie Gyllenhaal Insists Venice Jury Didn't Award 'Woman Unknown' Just for Being Directed by a Woman

    Sep 12, 2026

    Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal defends the Golden Lion choice, praising Woman Unknown on its artistic merits.

    Maggie Gyllenhaal Insists Venice Jury Didn't Award 'Woman Unknown' Just for Being Directed by a Woman

The photos · 22

Mia Wasikowska Breaks the Fourth Wall in Venice Drama 'Agata the Writer'
Maggie Gyllenhaal Insists Venice Jury Didn't Award 'Woman Unknown' Just for Being Directed by a Woman
Venice Film Festival Winners: Woman Unknown Wins Golden Lion as John Malkovich Scores Best Actor
Venice Film Festival Ditching Wild Red Carpets for Serious Style
Russell Crowe Admits He 'Mismanaged' His Hollywood Career at Venice Film Festival
Casey Affleck Brings Son Indiana to Venice Film Festival Premiere Alongside Ben Affleck
Pamela Anderson Brings Full Glamour to Venice Film Festival for 'Place To Be'
Martin suited up for the event in a fancy Giorgio Armani white silky blazer and black trousers.
Florence Pugh Stuns in Venice With Glamorous Water Taxi Arrival
Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem Bring High-Stakes Marriage Drama to Venice for New Thriller 'Bunker'
Casey Affleck Debuts Deeply Personal Drama ‘Company’ At Venice Film Festival Alongside Star-Studded Cast
Train Duty! Brooklyn Beckham Plays Dutiful Assistant to Wife Nicola Peltz at Venice Film Festival
Luca Guadagnino Unpacks His Obsession With Pushing Hollywood A-Listers Into Subversive Roles
Irina Shayk Brings Major Drama to Venice in Laced-Up Dolce & Gabbana
Underneath the dress, she added satin briefs, thigh-high socks and satin heels.
Shayk wore her hair in curls and bedazzled her neck with a crystal choker necklace.
Earlier in the day, she wowed in a 2015 Givenchy beaded top and trouser pants.
Shayk posted the look on Instagram, calling it “a piece of fashion history brought back to life.”
Ellen Burstyn Tears Up Accepting Venice Golden Lion After Recent Fall
Susan Sarandon & Alicia Vikander's 'The Echo Chamber' Scores 8-Minute Venice Ovation
Pamela Anderson Stuns Makeup-Free in Orange Satin at Venice amfAR Gala
Venice Weeps! Lee Chang-dong Gets 6-Minute Standing Ovation For New Epic 'Possible Love'

Venice Film Festival: your questions

Who won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival?

May el-Toukhy's historical drama Woman Unknown won the Golden Lion for Best International Feature Film, while Ellen Burstyn accepted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

Who served as jury president at Venice?

Maggie Gyllenhaal served as the jury president overseeing the main competition panel.

Which movie received the longest standing ovation at the festival?

The psychological thriller Bunker, starring Penélope Cruz, received a 15-minute standing ovation following its world premiere.

Why was there controversy around the festival's lineup?

Industry watchers and Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal highlighted a stark gender imbalance, noting that only two of the 21 main competition films were directed or co-directed by women.

Who won the acting awards at the festival?

Mathilde Arcel won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her role in Woman Unknown, and John Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.

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