Clooney, ‌65, is a Venice stalwart and made his first appearance at the film festival nearly three decades ago with Out of Sight in 1998.

The two-time ​Oscar-winner’s latest feature, Jay Kelly, premiered at Venice last year, ​and he joined Brad Pitt on the festival’s red ⁠carpet for the world premiere of their movie Wolfs in 2024.

Clooney ​directed Suburbicon, The Ides of March and Good Night, and Good Luck, all launched ​at Venice, and his other appearances include 2013’s festival opener Gravity, The Men Who Stare at Goats in 2009, Burn After Reading in 2008, Michael Clayton in 2007 and Intolerable ​Cruelty in 2003.

“I’ve had so many extraordinary moments in Venice. ​This festival is without question my favourite and to be given the ‌Golden Lion is a tremendous honour. It also probably means I’m old, but I’ll take it,” Clooney said in a statement shared by the festival.

Clooney, who shot to stardom with the hit 1990s ​medical drama series “ER”, ​married his ⁠wife Amal in a star-studded party in Venice in 2014.

“In his triple capacity as actor, director, ​and producer, George Clooney is a complete and ​charismatic artist, ⁠impassioned and original, who has transformed a deep vocation into one of the most luminous parabolas of contemporary film,” Venice Film Festival ⁠director ​Alberto Barbera said.

The 83rd edition of ​the Venice Film Festival will run from September 2 to 12, with the line-up ​announced later in July.