Venice Film Festival Honors Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love'; Highlights Debate on Gender and Politics
September 12, 2026
At the Venice Film Festival, Possible Love by Lee Chang-dong won the Grand Jury Prize, while DAU earned the Silver Lion for Best Director for Ilya Khrzhanovsky; Mathilde Arcel won Best Actress for Woman Unknown and John Malkovich took Best Actor for Wild Horse Nine, with NAZA, a Gaza-conflict documentary by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, claiming the Special Jury Prize.
El-Toukhy used her acceptance speech to emphasize that the female body is a battleground and that women remain invisible in many narratives.
Burstyn reflected on Monroe as a constructed persona, noting that her beauty masked a deeper self, and she recounted personal connections through a shared massage therapist and a copy of The Thinking Body that Monroe once owned.
Though Burstyn did not meet Monroe directly, she linked to the icon via stories, a therapist, and the book, framing the Monroe-inspired piece as an audition-like exploration by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
The program highlights Flesh Impact and quotes from Arthur Miller’s Sleep as themes about public perception, aging, and the personal costs of fame, as interpreted by Jake Gyllenhaal.
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Variety is cited as the source for an injury update, portraying Burstyn’s appearance as a celebratory moment despite physical setbacks.
Thematically, the film project centers on rediscovering purpose and wonder in later life, with Burstyn and Waititi probing personal disappointments and renewed meaning.
The Exorcist remains a cornerstone of Burstyn’s legacy, linking the 1973 premiere to the 2023 sequel The Exorcist: Believer within broader discussions of her work.
Gyllenhaal approached Burstyn to participate in Monroe-inspired material for her 100th birthday, presenting Burstyn as the preferred performer for the project, conceived as an audition-like exploration of depth and vulnerability.
AP Wire, through Scott A Garfitt, published a September report on Burstyn’s appearance, providing contemporaneous coverage.
In the project, Murray Bartlett is part of the cast, with Pamela Anderson noted as involved but not present at the press conference.
Summary based on 41 sources
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Sources

Outlook India • Sep 13, 2026
In Photos | 'Woman Unknown' Wins Golden Lion For Best Film At Venice Film Festival 2026
Variety • Sep 12, 2026
Maggie Gyllenhaal: Woman Unknown Venice Win Not a 'Statement'
The Guardian • Sep 12, 2026
Bold and bravura choices as Venice celebrates A Woman Unknown, Possible Love – and NAZA
• Sep 13, 2026
83rd Venice International Film Festival closes in Italy