65-year-old George Clooney will be awarded the honorary Golden Lion for his contributions to cinema. The award will be presented to him at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, which will take place from September 2 to 12, 2026, on the Lido Island. The decision to award him was made by the board of directors of the Venice Biennale on the recommendation of the festival's artistic director, Alberto Barbera. The honorary Golden Lion is considered one of the most prestigious awards in world cinema and is given for outstanding achievements throughout an artistic career. ### "It’s a great honor for me" Clooney himself admitted that this award holds special significance for him. The actor noted that he has many vivid memories associated with Venice, and he considers the festival one of his favorites in the world. "It’s a great honor for me," Clooney stated, adding with his characteristic self-irony that such awards usually remind a person of their age. ### Special Relationship with Venice Clooney's history with the Venice Film Festival spans nearly three decades. He first presented the film "Out of Sight" here in 1998 and later returned to the Lido multiple times as a director with films such as "Good Night, and Good Luck," "The Ides of March," and "Suburbicon." Over the years, the actor has also visited Venice for the premieres of films like "Gravity," "The Monuments Men," and "Jay Kelly." ### Career Marked by Two Oscars After the success of the medical series "ER," George Clooney became one of Hollywood's leading stars. Over decades of his career, he has played dozens of memorable roles in films of various genres. Among the actor's most famous works are "Ocean's Eleven," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "Michael Clayton," "Syriana," "Solaris," "Gravity," and "Good Night, and Good Luck." Throughout his career, Clooney has won the Oscar twice — as an actor and as a producer. ### Special Award Venice also holds an important place in Clooney's personal life: it is in this city that he married Amal Alamuddin in 2014. The honorary Golden Lion will be awarded during the festival's ceremony. The full program of the 83rd Venice Film Festival will be presented by the organizers later in July. This time, George Clooney will come to Venice not only as a guest of the festival but also as a recipient of one of the most prestigious awards in world cinema.