George Clooney will receive an honorary Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, in recognition of his entire career. The announcement was made Monday by the director of the festival, Alberto Barbera, who salutes a “complete and charismatic” artist who has marked contemporary cinema as an actor, director and producer.
“In his triple role as actor, director and producer, George Clooney is a complete and charismatic artist, passionate and original, who transformed a profound vocation into one of the most luminous trajectories of contemporary cinema,” greets Alberto Barbera. And continues: “But Clooney’s charisma is based on his credibility, not on his image, because his power of seduction has never been solely aesthetic.”
A regular at the Venetian festival, Clooney said he was “immensely honored” by this distinction, not without humor: “I experienced so many extraordinary moments in Venice,” commented George Clooney. This festival is without a doubt my favorite and to be awarded the Golden Lion is a huge honour. It probably also means I’m old, but I accept it.”
The Mostra will be held from September 2 to 12. His official selection will be revealed on July 23. The jury will be chaired by American actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, with French director Xavier Giannoli among its members.
