Venice Film Festival 2026 Features Only One Female-Directed Film in Competition

The 2026 Venice Film Festival’s main competition includes 20 titles, but only one is directed by a woman – May El‑Toukhy’s drama *Woman Unknown*. The lone female‑directed entry highlights a sharp decline in gender parity compared with previous years.

Festival chief Alberto Barbera said that 24% of the submissions were from women but, in his view, they were of lower quality, which is why only one made the cut. His remarks have sparked criticism from gender‑equality advocates who argue that the festival’s selection process contributes to the persistent gender gap in cinema.