EXCLUSIVE: Vue Lumière has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to May el-Toukhy’s Venice Golden Lion winner Woman Unknown from Trust Nordisk
EXCLUSIVE: Vue Lumière has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to May el-Toukhy’s Venice Golden Lion winner Woman Unknown from Trust Nordisk.
The film stars Mathilde Arcel, who won the Volpi Cup for best actress at Venice for her performance. Woman Unknown will be Denmark’s entry in the best international feature film category at the 2027 Oscars.
Woman Unknown follows a adolescent nanny and housemaid who is set to marry the wealthy older widower for whom she works. But she has a shameful secret: she was in a relationship with a German soldier during the Second World War.
It is written by el-Toukhy and Maren Louise Kaehne, and produced by Mikael Rieks for Nordisk Film Production in co-production with Nafta Films, Nordisk Film Production Sweden and Film i Vast.
Support comes from the Danish Film Institute, Eurimages – Council of Europe, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Riga City Council, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, DR, The Swedish Film Institute, SVT, LIAA, Riga Film Fund, TrustNordisk and Zentropa.
TrustNordisk recently closed deals for Germany and Austria (Weltkino), France (Memento), Spain (Karma Films), Poland (Best Film), Portugal (Nitrato Filmes), former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film), Switzerland (Filmcoopi) and Bulgaria (Beta Film). Previously announced deals include Italy (Lucky Red), Benelux (September Film), Latin America (California Filmes), Greece and Cyprus (Neo Films) and the Baltics (Estin Film).
The film is playing in competition at BFI London Film Festival. It will then continue its festival run at Riga and Busan film festivals.
“Woman Unknown is such a moving and pivotal story with a phenomenal central performance that packs a serious punch,” said Eve Gabereau, director of distribution at Vue Lumière. “It leaves you breathless and on the edge of your seat. We cannot wait for audiences in the UK and Ireland to experience it on the Big Screen, starting in Competition at the BFI London Film Festival this month and following on from its Golden Lion and Volpi Cup awards in Venice.”
“I am thrilled to have Vue Lumière onboard,” said TrustNordisk managing director Susan Wendt. “Their enthusiasm for the film reflects in a significant release strategy that will ensure that Woman Unknown will be able to reach a wide audience in the UK and Ireland.”
Separately from Woman Unknown, el-Toukhy is one of the five filmmakers behind the Danish Dogma 25 initiative. She has previously made features Long Story Short and Queen Of Hearts.
