May el-Toukhy
May el-Thouky | |
|---|---|
 El-Thouky in 2026 | |
| Born | 17 August 1977 Charlottenlund, Denmark |
| Education | DASPA, National Film School of Denmark |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Partner | Mikael Rieks |
| Children | 1 |
May el-Thouky (Arabic: مي الطوخي) is a Danish-Egyptian filmmaker. Most known for her drama film Queen of Hearts (2019). For Woman Unknown (2026), she won the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
Early life and education
[edit]El-Thouky was born in 1977 to a Danish mother and Egyptian father, and has said that her father's experience as a first generation immigrant has influenced her film making. She graduated from the Danish National School of Performing Arts in 2002, and later as a film director from the National Film School of Denmark in 2009.[1]
Career
[edit].jpg)
She creates films featuring complicated protagonists, like the 2019 film Queen of Hearts[2] and 2026 Woman Unknown. Woman Unknown was the only film by a female director initially included in the 2026 Venice Film Festival main competition.[3]
She was a signing member of the Dogma 25 movement.[3]
Personal life
[edit]El-Thouky is in a relationship with Danish producer Mikael Rieks. She also has a daughter from a previous relationship.[4]
Filmography
[edit]Feature films
[edit]| Year | English Title | Original Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Long Story Short | Lang historie kort |
| 2019 | Queen of Hearts | Dronningen |
| 2026 | Woman Unknown | Kvinde, ukendt |
Television
[edit]| Year | English Title | Original Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Legacy | Arvingerne | Directed 2 episodes |
| Ride Upon the Storm | Herrens Veje | Directed 2 episodes | |
| 2020 | Cry Wolf | Ulven kommer | Directed 2 episodes |
| 2022–23 | The Crown | Directed 4 episodes | |
References
[edit]- ↑ Mottram, James. "Venice Golden Lion winner May el-Toukhy on Woman Unknown and her Egyptian roots". The National. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "May el-Toukhy". dfi.dk (in Danish).
- 1 2 Balaga, Marta (6 September 2026). "'Woman Unknown' Director May el-Toukhy Talks the Torment of World War II 'Horizontal Collaborators' and Venice's Female Director Snub: 'It's a Structural Problem'". Variety. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
- ↑ Solgaard, Michael (15 March 2019). "BLÅ BOG May el-Toukhy". borsen.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 10 September 2026.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
