TrustNordisk is proud to announce that we have secured the international sales rights on WOMAN, UNKNOWN – the upcoming drama from acclaimed director May el-Toukhy (QUEEN OF HEARTS; THE CROWN). The film is currently in pre-production with principal photography planned for late September 2025. TrustNordisk will present the film to buyers for the first time at the upcoming festivals in Venice and Toronto.
Starring Mathilde Arcel (SECOND VICTIMS; SPECIAL UNIT – THE FIRST MURDER) and Carsten Bjørnlund (THE LEGACY) among others, WOMAN, UNKNOWN focuses on a young woman desperately trying to erase the past and rewrite her life.
“We are more than excited to be reunited with director May el-Toukhy. We had a great co-operation with her on her previous films – most recently on QUEEN OF HEARTS. May el-Toukhy has an extraordinary talent for creating emotionally tense dramas and with WOMAN, UNKNOWN she presents a riveting drama focusing on a female character under severe pressure. We can’t wait to bring this extraordinary film to the international market”, says Susan Wendt, Managing Director at TrustNordisk on the new acquisition.
Since her debut LONG STORY SHORT (2015) director May el-Toukhy has proven her exceptional talent for directing emotionally charged and character-driven dramas. Her second feature film QUEEN OF HEARTS (2019) world premiered at Sundance International Film Festival and received numerous awards at festivals all over the world e.g. the Audience Award at Sundance, the Nordic Council Film Prize and 3 awards at Gothenburg International Film Festival, to name a few. The film was subsequently adapted into the French remake L’ÈTÈ DERNIER (LAST SUMMER, 2023) by Cathrine Breillat which was selected for Main Competition in Cannes in 2023.
Besides feature films, el-Toukhy has directed several episodes of popular series such as THE LEGACY (2017), RIDE UPON THE STORM (2017), CRY WOLF (2020) and most recently and not least, several episodes of THE CROWN (2022-2023). Earlier this year it was also announced that May el-Toukhy is among the five filmmakers in the artistic collective behind the DOGMA 25-initiative. WOMAN, UNKNOWN is el-Toukhy’s third feature film with which she continues her long-term co-operation with script writer Maren Louise Kähne (LONG STORY SHORT; QUEEN OF HEARTS; A PERFECTLY NORMAL FAMILY). The film will be shot in Riga, Gothenburg and Copenhagen and with release currently planned for late 2026.
Synopsis
Marie, a young woman, is about to marry Christian, a wealthy older widower for whom she has worked as a nanny and housekeeper. A marriage that will give her social stability and the opportunity for a new start. However, Marie carries a secret that threatens to destroy her new life. As the truth is about to come out, she feels the pressure on her intensify and she is forced to navigate a complex moral landscape in her struggle to preserve her new status and identity.
WOMAN, UNKNOWN is directed by May el-Toukhy, written by May el-Toukhy and Maren Louise Kähne and produced by Mikael Rieks (LAND OF MINE; BOUNDLESS; APPLAUSE) for Nordisk Film Production A/S in co-production with NAFTA FILMS and Film i Väst with support from The Danish Film Institute, Eurimages, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, DR, The Swedish Film Institute, SVT, LIAA, Riga Film Fund, TrustNordisk and Zentropa. Local distribution by Nordisk Film Distribution. TrustNordisk handles international sales.