George Clooney, 65, was honored with the prestigious Golden Lion award at the opening of the Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2026. In a moment that playfully subverted the spotlight, Clooney accepted the award before borrowing a photographer's lens to capture his own images.
Tiziana Fabi, a photographer for Agence France-Presse, posed for Clooney while holding his trophy. Upon receiving the award, Clooney called it an "incredible honour" and quipped about the committee's intentions.
Clooney's acceptance speech touched on contemporary societal issues, stating, "we are living through a moment in time where people in charge... are telling us to fear one another." He emphasized the critical role of journalists and artists in challenging fear-mongering narratives. "The first people that authoritarians try to shut down are not politicians. They're journalists who ask questions," Clooney said. "They're the artists who refuse simple answers. They're the filmmakers, writers, actors and musicians who insist that someone you have never met is deserving of your empathy. Stories are always dangerous to people who peddle in fear."
Earlier in the evening, Clooney walked the red carpet with his wife, Amal Clooney, for the premiere of Danny Boyle's film "Ink." Clooney was dressed in a Giorgio Armani tuxedo, while Amal wore a black Tom Ford gown. The film "Ink," based on a 2017 play, chronicles Rupert Murdoch's 1969 takeover of The Sun newspaper.
Claire Foy, who stars in "Ink" as a fictional executive, commented on the portrayal of power within the newspaper industry depicted in the film. "They had power at their fingertips. They knew what they wrote would be... what people believed," she said.