Venice Film Festival Faces Protest Over Lack of Female Directors

The selection for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival has sparked criticism from six Italian film associations, who are protesting the stark gender imbalance in the competition lineup. Out of the 20 films vying for awards, only one is directed by a woman.

The Danish-Egyptian filmmaker May el-Toukhy is the sole female director represented, with her second feature film, "Woman Unknown." This limited inclusion has led the associations to question the festival's commitment to gender diversity and the opportunities afforded to female directors in the industry.

In response to the criticism, the festival's artistic director reportedly stated that there were not enough high-quality works by female directors found for selection. This explanation, however, has done little to appease the protesting groups, who see the lack of representation as a significant issue.

Last year, American director Jim Jarmusch won the Golden Lion for Best Film with "Father Mother Sister Brother." The current selection raises doubts about the likelihood of a female director receiving the festival's top prize in 2026.

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We unfortunately did not find enough quality female works.