From September 2 to 12, 2026, the Venice Film Festival once again brought filmmakers, actors and international audiences together on the Lido. The 83rd edition presented a wide selection of new cinema, major premieres and emerging voices, while the red carpet remained a key meeting point for film and fashion.
By Kinsley Ah-Chion
A Strong Competition
The festival opened with INK, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy. The film premiered in competition, setting the tone for a programme that brought established filmmakers together with directors making their competition debuts.
As the festival progressed, the competition offered a varied selection of films from across Europe and beyond. Among the titles that attracted attention was NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, which later received the Special Jury Prize. The film joined a competition that featured 21 titles and several first-time participants.
The Golden Lion
The evening of September 12 closed the festival with the official awards ceremony. May el-Toukhy’s Kvinde Ukendt (Woman Unknown) received the Golden Lion for Best Film, while Lee Chang-dong’s Ga-Neung-Han Sa-Rang (Possible Love) won the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize. Ilya Khrzhanovsky received the Best Director award for DAU.
The acting prizes went to Mathilde Arcel for Woman Unknown and John Malkovich for Wild Horse Nine. Meanwhile, Malou Khebizi received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for her performance in 15/18 (A Place to Heal).
A Festival Beyond the Red Carpet
Beyond the main competition, Venice continued to support new talent and different forms of filmmaking. The Venice Production Bridge welcomed around 3,000 accredited industry professionals, while Venice Immersive presented projects exploring cinema through new technologies.
Public interest also remained strong. The 2026 edition sold 117,656 tickets, marking a 14% increase compared with 2025, which had already set a record. With its mix of established names, new filmmakers and international stories, Venice 2026 closed another significant chapter in the festival’s long history.
Credits
Photographer: Yaro R. @monacophotographerr