May el‑Toukhy’s film “Woman Unknown” has been selected as Denmark’s official entry for the International Feature category at the Oscars.
“Woman Unknown” recently won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, chosen by a jury presided over by Maggie Gyllenhaal. El‑Toukhy was the sole female director competing at this year’s Venice festival. In addition to the Golden Lion, the film earned star Mathilde Arcel the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress. The picture was later showcased at Toronto and will screen at the BFI London Film Festival and in Busan.
Tine Fischer, CEO of the Danish Film Institute and chair of the Danish Oscar selection committee, noted that May el‑Toukhy has made history with “Woman Unknown,” becoming only the second Danish director to win the Golden Lion at Venice, after Carl Th. Dreyer’s Ordet in 1955.
Fischer described “Woman Unknown” as a bold and uncompromising work that examines guilt, shame and morality, illustrating how women’s bodies and fates become the subject of societal condemnation and control.
She added that the film presents no easy answers and challenges viewers with difficult, important questions, and its strong artistic vision and thematic depth position it well for the Oscar race.
Set in Copenhagen in May 1945, the film follows Marie as she prepares for her summer wedding to an older, respected widower. For years she has worked as a maid in his home, caring for his daughter. A new life appears within reach, yet a hidden secret threatens to destroy her dream. As the truth about her past emerges, the stakes become ever higher, and she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice, knowing that no one may learn the truth.
El‑Toukhy previously directed “Queen of Hearts,” which earned the Audience Award at Sundance and garnered both Robert and Bodil Awards in Denmark. She has also directed episodes of the Emmy‑winning series “The Crown” and was among the founders of Dogma25, launched at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025.
Produced by Mikael Christian Rieks for Nordisk Film Production, “Woman Unknown” receives support from the Danish Film Institute and is slated for release in Danish cinemas on February 4.
