Hollywood star and filmmaker George Clooney will be honoured with this year's Venice Film Festival Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award, organizers announced on Monday.
Clooney, 65, is a Venice stalwart and made his first appearance at the film festival nearly three decades ago with "Out of Sight" in 1998.
The two-time Oscar-winner's latest feature "Jay Kelly" premiered at Venice last year and he joined Brad Pitt on the festival's red carpet for the world premiere of their movie "Wolfs" in 2024.
Clooney directed "Suburbicon," "The Ides of March" and "Good Night, and Good Luck," all launched at Venice and his other appearances include 2013's festival opener "Gravity," "The Men Who Stare at Goats" in 2009, "Burn After Reading" in 2008, "Michael Clayton" in 2007 and "Intolerable Cruelty" in 2003.
"I've had so many extraordinary moments in Venice. This festival is without question my favorite and to be given the Golden Lion is a tremendous honor. It also probably means I'm old, but I'll take it," Clooney said in a statement shared by the festival.
