Venice 83 awards two Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement: George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn

The selection of the 83rd International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art is now known in its main lines: twenty films in competition, opening with Danny Boyle, closing with Giovanni Veronesi. There is, however, an element in the composition of this edition that deserves to be read on its own, because it does not concern the programme but the awards decided outside the competition: this year’s Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement are two.

Who receives them and under what procedure

The first goes to George Clooney, American actor, director and producer. The second to Ellen Burstyn, American actress. Both awards will be presented during the Exhibition, which is held at the Lido from September 2 to 12, 2026.

The procedure is the standard one and it is worth spelling it out, because it illustrates how the festival’s governance works: the two awards were proposed by artistic director Alberto Barbera and approved by the Board of Directors of the Biennale, chaired by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. The director indicates, the board deliberates. It is not a jury award: the competition jury, chaired by Maggie Gyllenhaal, assigns the Lions of the competition, not the lifetime achievement ones.

Two profiles, two stories of American cinema

The available sources do not report official reasons, so we limit ourselves to what the two names represent in the Biennale’s communication: on one side a figure who works simultaneously in front of the camera, behind it and in production; on the other a performer whose career spans decades of American cinema. Doubling the award in a single edition is a scheduling and visibility choice: two ceremonies instead of one, spread over eleven days of programming.

The context of the edition

The Exhibition is organized by the Venice Biennale under the direction of Barbera. It opens on September 2 in the Sala Grande with “Ink” by Danny Boyle, in competition and world premiere, with Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy: the film is based on the play of the same name by James Graham and reconstructs the acquisition of the British newspaper The Sun by Rupert Murdoch. The pre-opening, on September 1, is entrusted to the restoration of “Col cuore in gola” by Tinto Brass for the Venezia Classici section.

Twenty feature films have been selected in competition, all world premieres, including works by Werner Herzog, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Lee Chang-dong, Martin McDonagh, Nanni Moretti and Casey Affleck. Moretti returns to competition at the Lido after 37 years with “Succederà questa notte”. The closing film, out of competition on September 12 after the awards ceremony, is “Dio ride” by Giovanni Veronesi.

What the structure of the programme says

Set out in order, the three levels of the edition — lifetime achievement awards, competition, framework — describe a festival that combines institutional recognition of two American careers, a competition with established authors from Europe, Asia and North America, and an opening entrusted to a film about publishing and media power.

The dates to note remain three: September 1 for the pre-opening with the Brass restoration, September 2 for the opening with Boyle, September 12 for the awards ceremony and closing with Veronesi. The presentation of the two Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement will take place within this eleven-day span.

Sources: La Biennale di Venezia; Il Giornale dell’Arte; Visit Lido; LaPresse.