George Clooney is being honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival, marking a new chapter in his nearly 30-year association with the prestigious event and the city itself. Clooney, who considers Venice one of the world's most beautiful cities, has long been a fixture at the festival, where he has experienced many significant moments in his career.
His connection to Venice began with the 1997 premiere of Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight" at the festival. This marked a turning point for the actor, who was also preparing to leave his role on the medical drama "ER" around the same time.
Over the years, Clooney has presented several of his films in Venice. In 2003, the Coen brothers' "Intolerable Cruelty," co-starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, premiered out of competition. The following year, his directorial debut "Good Night, and Good Luck," a drama about journalist Edward R. Murrow's confrontation with Sen. Joseph McCarthy, competed for the Golden Lion and earned Clooney an Oscar nomination for best director. During that visit, a cocktail inspired by Clooney, the "Buona Notte," was created at the Hotel Cipriani.
Further film premieres at the festival include the 2007 legal thriller "Michael Clayton," which garnered Clooney another Oscar nomination, and the 2012 Coen brothers comedy "The Ides of March," which also debuted on opening night. Clooney has also used such appearances to comment on political matters, noting during "The Ides of March" premiere that "It's a very difficult time to govern."
His directorial project "Gravity," starring Sandra Bullock, opened the 2013 Venice Film Festival and went on to win seven Academy Awards. Clooney, present at the premiere, downplayed his role in the film.
Venice also served as the lokasi for a pivotal personal event: Clooney's wedding to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014 at the Aman Venice. The ceremony was attended by approximately 100 close friends and family.
The actor returned to the festival in 2017 with his directorial effort "Suburbicon," notable as the Clooneys' first public appearance since the birth of their twins.
In 2021, Clooney attended the festival to support his wife, Amal, who was receiving an award for her human rights work. At the event, she playfully referred to her husband as a "rising star."
Most recently, in 2023, Clooney reunited with Brad Pitt for the action-comedy "Wolfs." The premiere also coincided with Clooney's public commentary on the U.S. presidential election, where he advocated for President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid, suggesting a selfless act similar to George Washington's would be historically significant.
Clooney's most recent film, "Jay Kelly," premiered at the festival, where he was absent from the press conference due to illness but attended the red carpet. During the film's production, director Noah Baumbach surprised Clooney by using a montage of his own filmography to depict his character's career, a revelation that prompted reflection on his extensive career and experiences. Reflecting on his life and career, Clooney remarked, "What a lucky life I've lived."