George Clooney will receive the Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, in recognition of a career that has spanned acting, directing and producing across film and television.
“I had many extraordinary moments in Venice,” Clooney said in a statement. “This festival is without a doubt my favorite, and receiving the Golden Lion is a huge honor. It might also mean I’m old, but I’ll take it.”
Announcing the honor, Venice Artistic Director Alberto Barbera described Clooney as a “complete and charismatic artist” whose career has combined mainstream success with an ongoing commitment to ambitious filmmaking and humanitarian causes.
Clooney is one of the pioneers of Venice, and has premiered features such as Good night, and good luck (2005), attractiveness (2013), March ideas (2011), and most recently, Jay Kelly (2025) on Lido.
Barbera said Clooney’s career, both in front of and behind the camera, demonstrated a “demanding and generous conception of cinema” while reflecting Clooney’s long-standing engagement with political and social issues.
Clooney’s career has earned him two Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. He also has the distinction of receiving Academy Award nominations in more competitive categories than any other individual.
Earlier this year, Clooney received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut in the play adaptation Good night, and good luckreprising his role as journalist Edward R. Murrow from the 2005 film which he co-wrote with Grant Heslov. The production also became the first live Broadway performance to be simulcast on television, on CNN.
Through the Smokehouse Pictures banner with Heslov, Clooney continued to produce and direct films including… Boys in the boat, Tender bar and Midnight skywhile also expanding into television with projects such as Catch 22 And Showtime Agency.
Beyond filmmaking, Clooney has been active in humanitarian work for nearly two decades, including advocacy on Darfur, serving as a peace messenger for the United Nations and founding the anti-genocide organization Not On Our Watch. His humanitarian efforts have been recognized with honors including the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award and the Robert F. Kennedy Rebel of Hope Award.
The 2026 Venice Film Festival will be held from September 2 to 12. The festival will reveal the full lineup on July 23.
