The inauguration of the 83rd Venice Film Festival had a singular name: George Clooney. At 65, the Hollywood star collected the prestigious Golden Lion for a lifetime of work and used the moment to emphasize the importance of art and freedom of expression. On the red carpet prior to the ceremony, the actor delighted the public by signing autographs for fans and posing for photographers, even ‘stealing’ a camera from one of them to take a few pictures.
The actor, director and producer is by now a regular in the City of Canals, having attended the last two editions with the crime comedy Wolfs, co-starring with his friend Brad Pitt in 2024, and with the metacomedy about the world of cinema Jay Kelly, last year. Venice was also the place where he married his wife Amal Clooney in 2014.
It was precisely his co-star in Jay Kelly, Laura Dern, who presented the Golden Lion to George Clooney. «He is a man of profound humanity and integrity, and he also needs to tell stories. Stories that, of course, entertain us, but also move us, drive us to be better and to long for goodness in ourselves and in others», said the actress. «Oh, and he also turns out to be the best friend you could have and the most fun person you could meet. And yes, the most handsome. And yes, he was chosen twice the sexiest man alive. Twice!»
«George’s stories get better every time he tells them», added Laura Dern. «Ages with as much elegance as a good Gouda cheese. He is capable of doing, performing, achieving and competing in almost anything, and he does it better than any of us. But, please, please, keep him away from the dance floor: he has no idea!», joked the actress about Clooney’s dancing abilities.
George Clooney’s Powerful Speech
«When you are told that you will be awarded a prize for a lifetime of work, two things come to mind», joked the Oscar-winner when it was his turn to speak. «The first is: ‘What an incredible honor.’ And the second is: ‘Do you know something I don’t know? Have you been talking to my doctors, right?’». He then thanked his friends and his wife, Amal Clooney, who smiled radiantly in the audience.
George Clooney holds his Golden Lion.
«I have no words to describe how much I love my wife and how proud I am of her and our two children», he emotionally stated. »By the way, my two children are the only two people I liked in Batman. I haven’t let them watch the full film«, he joked about one of his less popular roles. »Don’t watch it until the end; it’s terrible«.
After describing his 45-year career as a «series of happy accidents», George Clooney turned serious to assert that «we are living in a moment where those who rule and those with the most money tell us to fear one another. But we know that’s not the case. The first people whom authoritarian figures try to silence are not politicians. They are the journalists who ask questions, the artists who reject easy answers, the filmmakers, writers, actors and musicians who insist that someone you’ve never met deserves your empathy».
Clooney added that «stories are always dangerous for those who exploit fear» and that «the people who fear books, music and stories are never the heroes of the story». He concluded by highlighting the importance of festivals like the Mostra, as they are «one of the few places left where people from all countries sit in the same room and spend two hours seeing the world through the eyes of another person».
The actor and his support for Mark Ruffalo
On arrival in Venice and before collecting the award, the actor staged a press conference in which he did not shy away from addressing the controversy surrounding Mark Ruffalo. After 180 Jewish Hollywood artists signed a letter in his defense following antisemitism allegations by a Paramount spokesperson, George Clooney said he supported «his right to express himself freely».
George Clooney jokes with a camera next to Laura Dern.
When asked about the current state of the United States, Clooney defined it with reference to kakistocracy, a Greek word that refers to a form of government controlled by the least qualified, most inept or corrupt citizens. «I think we may have kakistocracy right now, but we will overcome it», the actor said. «In November we’ll have elections that should serve as a check. And then, in 2028, we will regain some normality».
