Venice Film Festival's top prize; emblem of prestige since 1949
Venice opens its 83rd edition with a slate focused on Gaza, Ukraine, tech power and media consolidation. George Clooney will receive a lifetime award; Oasis documentary and high-profile directors are features amid a broader geopolitical frame. The festival showcases a mix of Hollywood stars and world cinema as it navigates contemporary conflicts and industry shifts.
George Clooney has been chosen to receive the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, which runs from September 2–12. He has described the honor as tremendous and noted it may mean he is old. Venice holds personal significance for Clooney, including his 2014 marriage in the city.
Venice Film Festival names NAZA, by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, as the festival’s only documentary in competition. The film, shot at night from Tel Aviv rooftops, examines what the filmmakers describe as Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It builds on reporting by +972, Local Call and The Guardian, with production by The Guardian and JW Films and executive producing by Jonathan Glazer. The festival runs 2–12 September.