The Venice Film Festival announced that the American actor, director and producer George Clooney will be awarded the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement in its next edition, which will take place from September 2 to 12, 2026.

Upon learning the news, Clooney, 65, expressed his deep gratitude towards an event with which he has a close bond.

"I have experienced many extraordinary moments in Venice. The Venice Film Festival is without a doubt my favorite festival, and receiving the Golden Lion is an immense honor. It probably also means that I am getting older, but that's okay," the director joked.

For his part, Alberto Barbera, director of the contest, praised Clooney's versatility and his professional evolution, which began without shortcuts through small roles in television series and films, until achieving massive success in the medical drama "ER."

Barbera highlighted that the filmmaker has “the gift of making his characters seem not only credible but desirable, close and human, thanks also to an undeniable charm.” Likewise, he applauded his “demanding and generous” conception of cinema, visible in the nine films where he has been behind the cameras.

Clooney's track record is a reflection of his impact on the entertainment and culture industry. He has two Oscars, four Golden Globes (including the Cecil B. DeMille Award), four SAG Awards, a BAFTA Award, an Emmy, and the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2013, the filmmaker cemented his status by becoming the person nominated in the most different categories in the history of the Academy Awards.

In addition to his cinematographic achievements, the festival organization stressed that the Golden Lion also commemorates the filmmaker's firm humanitarian commitment on a global level. Recently, Clooney has continued to innovate by receiving a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut with “Good Night, and Good Luck,” a production that made history by becoming the first play to be broadcast simultaneously on television around the world.