American actor George Clooney, 65, will be awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival, to be held from September 2 to 12, 2026, the organization announced Monday in a statement.

Upon accepting the award, Clooney stated: "I have lived many extraordinary moments in Venice. The Venice Film Festival is undoubtedly my favorite festival, and receiving the Golden Lion is an immense honor. It probably also means I'm getting older, but that's fine."

Complete and Charismatic Artist

Festival director Alberto Barbera declared that "in his triple role as actor, director, and producer, George Clooney is a complete and charismatic artist, passionate and original, who has transformed a profound vocation into one of the most luminous careers in contemporary cinema."

"A career that began without shortcuts, through small roles in television series and B-movies, up to the great success as the protagonist of the series 'ER,' have forged an actor capable of inhabiting the screen with captivating naturalness, granting him the gift of making his characters seem not only credible but desirable, close, and human, thanks also to an undeniable charm," he added.

Perfect Combination: Glamour, Professionalism, and Sensitivity

Barbera also highlighted the "perfect combination of old-school star glamour, great professionalism, and modern sensitivity" and his "versatility."

"In each of these films, he has modulated his register without ever betraying himself: ironic and melancholic, fascinating and reflective, brilliant and capable of unexpected depth. As in the nine films he made after deciding to get behind the camera, they reveal a demanding and generous conception of cinema," he added.

The Venice Film Festival also emphasized that Clooney "has been recognized both for his humanitarian work globally and for his achievements in the entertainment industry."

Awards

Clooney's career as an actor and director includes two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes (including the Cecil B. DeMille Award), four SAG Awards, one BAFTA Award, two Critics' Choice Awards, one Emmy, four National Board of Review Awards, and the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.

When Clooney received his eighth Oscar nomination in 2013, he earned a special place in Academy history, having been nominated in more categories than anyone else in those awards' history. More recently, Clooney received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut in "Good Night, and Good Luck," where he played Edward R. Murrow in the stage adaptation of his 2005 Oscar-nominated film, co-written with Grant Heslov. He made history as the first Broadway production to be simultaneously broadcast on television — the show aired on CNN for audiences worldwide.