George Clooney to receive honorary Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival

Actor, director, and producer George Clooney will be honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the upcoming Venice Film Festival, organizers announced Monday.

The 83rd edition of the prestigious festival is scheduled to run from September 2 to 12. Clooney, 65, stated that receiving the award is a "tremendous honor." He humorously added, "That probably means I'm old, but I'll accept it," in a statement released by the festival.

Clooney is a familiar face at the Venice festival, known not only for his extensive filmography but also for his political activism and humanitarian work. The festival's director, Alberto Barbera, highlighted Clooney's "remarkable versatility" across various genres. Barbera cited notable works such as "Syriana" (2005), for which Clooney won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, as well as "Ocean's Eleven," "Gravity," and "The Descendants."

Barbera described Clooney as a "complete and charismatic artist, passionate and original." The jury for the 83rd Venice Mostra will be presided over by American actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. Clooney's career spans decades, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in both Hollywood and international cinema.