George Clooney, 65, was seen in high spirits at the 83rd Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, participating in a photocall ahead of receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. The actor playfully struck a fighting pose for photographers, dressed in a navy suit and an open-collared white shirt.
This marks a significant year for Clooney at the festival, where he has been a regular presence for nearly three decades. His first Venice Film Festival appearance was with the film "Out Of Sight." Significant moments at the event for Clooney include the debut of "Good Night, And Good Luck," which earned him an Oscar nomination for best director. Last year, he attended to promote "Jay Kelly," a film in which his character also receives a lifetime achievement award, making this year's recognition a full-circle moment.
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The festival's red carpet events commenced on Wednesday with the premiere of Danny Boyle's "Ink," a drama focused on Rupert Murdoch. The festival is scheduled to conclude on September 12 with the Italian costume drama "Dio Ride (God Laughs)." The jury for the main competition is chaired by American actress and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal, alongside a panel of international directors, a composer, and a film critic.
Stars expected to attend the festival include Noel and Liam Gallagher, sisters Rooney and Kate Mara, Robert Pattinson, Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, Pamela Anderson, Sam Rockwell, John Malkovich, Louis Garrel, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Ellen Burstyn, who is also set to receive a lifetime achievement award.
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Prior to the award ceremony, Clooney and his wife, Amal, 48, had a date night at the Aman Venice hotel, their wedding venue from 12 years prior. Amal, a human rights lawyer, wore a white dress for the occasion. Clooney himself was seen in a dapper grey suit the evening before accepting his award. The Aman Venice hotel, situated on the canal front, opened in 2013 within the Palazzo Papadopoli.
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Earlier in July, the Clooneys reportedly evacuated their home in Brignoles, in the south of France, due to wildfires that affected the region. Clooney expressed his commitment to the community in a letter to the mayor, stating his and his wife's dedication to helping rebuild the village regardless of the impact of the fires.