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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Philip Oltermann in Venice

Cult of male genius holding female film-makers back, says Woman Unknown director

Director May el-Toukhy laughs at a Venice film festival photocall
‘All of us are responsible for changing that discourse,’ said el-Toukhy. Photograph: Fabio Frustaci/EPA

The enduring cult of male genius is keeping down female film-makers, one of the only two female directors in the running for the top prize at this year’s Venice film festival has warned.

“I’ve never ever read an article where a female director is promoted as a genius,” said the Danish-Egyptian director May el-Toukhy, whose film Woman Unknown has been selected for the Golden Lion competition on the Lido this year.

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