Afghan filmmaker, born in Tehran (1991)
Venice has announced its lineup with new titles and a slate that mirrors Cannes in its mix of international cinema and documentaries. TIFF has revealed more than 60 films for its gala and special presentations, signaling its role as a key market ahead of the fall awards race. The two festivals showcase a mix of traditional studio projects and bold indie filmmaking.
Venice Film Festival winners have spotlighted gender disparity in cinema. May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown has won Golden Lion; Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love takes Silver Lion; Ilya Khrzhanovsky’s DAU wins best director. Gaza documentary NAZA earns a special jury prize. The festival continues to face questions about female representation in major competitions.