George Clooney to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement award at Venice Film Festival 2026
Washington DC, July 6
Actor George Clooney is set to be honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival 2026.
The Venice Film Festival shared the announcement on its Instagram handle on Monday. While quoting Artistic Director Alberto Barbera, the film festival wrote, "Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival goes to the great American actor, director and producer George Clooney."
They continued, "Artistic Director Alberto Barbera declared: "In his triple capacity as actor, director, and producer, George Clooney is a complete and charismatic artist, impassioned and original, who has transformed a deep vocation into one of the most luminous parabolas of contemporary film. [...] A perfect combination of the star glamour of days gone by, remarkable professionalism, and modern sensitivity, the actor has crossed the genres with rare versatility".
While accepting the award, the actor described the award as a "tremendous honour."
George Clooney said, "I've had so many extraordinary moments in Venice. This Festival is without question my favourite and to be given the Golden Lion is a tremendous honour. It also probably means I'm old, but I'll take it".
Clooney has scored Academy Awards for best supporting actor for playing a veteran CIA officer in "Syriana" (2005) and as a producer alongside Ben Affleck and Grant Heslov on "Argo" which scored the Oscar for Best Motion Picture in 2012.
Most recently, in 2025, Clooney earned a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of "Good Night, and Good Luck" in which he starred as Edward R. Murrow. The show made Broadway history as the first live Broadway performance to be simultaneously televised on CNN to audiences across the world, reported Variety.
The 83rd edition of Venice will run September 2-12, with the festival's lineup being announced July 23.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's amazing how George Clooney has balanced Hollywood stardom with meaningful work—his activism on Sudan and other issues is commendable. But I wish the Venice Film Festival would also recognize more Asian talent. We have so many great filmmakers from India who deserve such honors!
Clooney is a class act. He's not just a movie star but a humanitarian. The way he's handled his career and personal life is something to admire. The Golden Lion is well-deserved. Looking forward to seeing him in Venice! 🇮🇹
That's a big achievement for any actor! I remember watching 'The Descendants' and being blown away by his performance. But honestly, with all due respect, I think there are many international actors who deserve similar recognition but get overlooked because of Hollywood bias. Still, congratulations, George! 🎉
Clooney's transition from heartthrob to serious actor and producer is inspiring. His work on 'Good Night, and Good Luck' on Broadway shows he's still pushing boundaries. Venice is lucky to have him. But yaar, wish we had more Indian representation on such global stages!
This is a well-deserved honor. George Clooney has given us so many memorable films and his humanitarian work is inspiring. The Venice Film Festival is the perfect venue for this. Can't wait to see him accept the award! 🦁✨
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