Venice Winner ‘Woman Unknown’ Unveils New Deals Including France In Wake Of Golden Lion Victory

Trust Nordisk has unveiled fresh deals for Danish-Egyptian director May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown following its Golden Lion win at the Venice Film Festival.

New sales include to Memento for France, as well as Spain (Karma Films), Poland (Best Film), Portugal (Nitrato Filmes), the former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film) and Bulgaria (Beta Film).

Previously announced deals include to Italy (Lucky Red), Benelux (September Films), Latin America (California Filmes), Greece (Neo Films) and the Baltics (Estin Film).

The post-World War II, Denmark-set psychological drama stars Mathilde Arcel as a young nanny and housemaid, who is about to marry her wealthy older employer, a widower still haunted by the memory of his late wife.

Amid the jubilation of the liberation there is a darker side, as women who fraternized with German soldiers are tracked down and brutally publicly shamed. A painful secret from Marie’s past threatens to catch up with her.

The French distribution deal was negotiated between Alexandre Mallet-Guy, CEO of Memento and Nicolai Korsgaard, Sales Director at TrustNordisk.

“We were impressed by the unfailing precision and sharp rigour of May el-Toukhy’s work which demonstrates impressive narrative power,” said Memento CEO Alexandre Mallet-Guy.

“Woman Unknown is not only a faithful portrayal of the immediate post-war period it is also a bold portrait of a woman of her time brilliantly played by Mathilde Arcel. We are looking forward to sharing the film with French audiences.”

Previously announced deals include to Italy (Lucky Red), Benelux (September Film), Latin America (California Filmes), Greece (Neo Film) and the Baltics (Estin Film).

Alongside the Golden Lion for best film, Woman Unknown lead actress Mathilde Arcel took home the Volpi Cup for Best Actress Golden Lion.

The film continues its festival run with its North American premiere in the Centrepiece section at TIFF. It will then show at BFI London Film Festival, Riga International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival.