TrustNordisk is proud to announce multiple sales in Asia, alongside additional sales in Eastern Europe for May el-Toukhy’s acclaimed feature WOMAN UNKNOWN, which won the Golden Lion for Best Film, as well as the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival earlier this year. These deals follow yesterday’s announcement of the film’s sale to the U.S., acquired by Cohen Media group.
The sales have been secured for Korea (Atnine Film), Japan (New Select), China (Neo Glow Culture), India (Jai Virata Entertainment), Hong Kong (First Distributors), Indonesia (Falcon), Taiwan (Swallow Wings Film), Australia and New Zealand (Rialto Distribution), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Film Europe), Romania (Follow Art Distribution) and Hungary (Vertigo). This brings the film close to being sold out internationally.
Since May el-Toukhy’s debut LONG STORY SHORT (2015) the director 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. 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 several episodes of THE CROWN (2022-2023). May el-Toukhy is also among the five filmmakers in the artistic collective behind the Danish DOGMA 25-initiative.
WOMAN UNKNOWN is el-Toukhy’s third feature film with which she continues her long-term co-operation with screenwriter Maren Louise Käehne (LONG STORY SHORT; QUEEN OF HEARTS, THE BRIDGE, BORGEN).
Synopsis
Marie, a young nanny and housemaid, is about to marry the wealthy older widower, Christian, for whom she is working. But Marie guards a shameful secret. During World War II, she was in an intimate relationship with a German soldier. Now Marie’s past threatens to catch up with her, and she is forced to do everything in her power to preserve her new status as lady of the house in post-war anarchy.
Previously sold territories for the film include UK and Ireland (Vue Lumière) Germany and Austria (Weltkino), France (Memento), Spain (Karma Films), Poland (Best Film), Portugal (Nitrato Filmes), the former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom Film), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Bulgaria (Beta Film), Italy (Lucky Red), Benelux (September Film), Latin America (California Filmes), Greece and Cyprus (Neo Films) and the Baltics (Estin Film).
WOMAN UNKNOWN is directed by May el-Toukhy, written by May el-Toukhy and Maren Louise Käehne and produced by Mikael Rieks (LAND OF MINE; BOUNDLESS; APPLAUSE) for Nordisk Film Production A/S in co-production with Nafta Films, Nordisk Film Production Sweden and Film i Väst with support 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. Local distribution by Nordisk Film Distribution. TrustNordisk handles international sales.