Denmark has announced its official submission for the international feature film category at the Academy Awards: “Woman Unknown,” directed by May el-Toukhy. The film recently won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, where it also earned lead actress Mathilde Arcel the Coppa Volpi for best actress. El-Toukhy became only the second Danish director to win the Venice Golden Lion, following Carl Th. Dreyer’s 1955 win for “Ordet.”
The period drama is set in Copenhagen in May 1945 and follows a woman named Marie as she prepares for her wedding to an older, respected widower. Marie has been employed as a maid in his household for several years, but a secret from her past threatens to derail her plans for a new life. The narrative explores themes of guilt, shame, and societal control over women’s bodies and futures.
Tine Fischer, CEO of the Danish Film Institute and chair of the Danish Oscar committee, characterized the film as bold and uncompromising. She noted that the work raises difficult questions without offering simple resolutions, positioning it as a strong contender in the international feature race. The film will continue its festival run at the BFI London Film Festival and Busan before its theatrical release in Denmark in February.
El-Toukhy previously directed “Queen of Hearts,” which won the Audience Award at Sundance and earned recognition in Denmark. She has also directed episodes of the Emmy-winning series “The Crown” and was involved in launching Dogma 25 during Cannes. “Woman Unknown” is produced by Mikael Christian Rieks for Nordisk Film Production with support from the Danish Film Institute.
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