Laura Dern to honour George Clooney at Venice Film Fest 2025
Synopsis
Laura Dern — Clooney's co-star in 'Jay Kelly' at last year's Venice — will take the stage to honour him with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 83rd festival's Opening Ceremony on 2 September. The pairing is no coincidence: their shared Venice history and recent collaboration make this tribute one of the more personally charged moments of the festival calendar.
Key Takeaways
Laura Dern will deliver the Laudatio speech honouring George Clooney at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival .
Clooney will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the Opening Ceremony on 2 September 2025 .
The ceremony will be held at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema , Lido di Venezia .
Dern and Clooney co-starred in 'Jay Kelly' , directed by Noah Baumbach , which competed at the 82nd Venice Film Festival .
Dern previously attended Venice with films including 'Marriage Story' , for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress .
Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern will deliver the Laudatio speech honouring George Clooney as he receives the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 2 September at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema on Lido di Venezia, during the festival's Opening Ceremony.
Official Announcement
The organisers of the Venice Film Festival, part of La Biennale di Venezia, confirmed the news on the festival's official website on Sunday, 30 August. In a statement, the organisers said: “Academy Award winner Laura Dern will give the Laudatio honoring George Clooney, on the occasion of the awarding of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to the American actor and director, on Wednesday September 2nd in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema (Lido di Venezia), during the Opening Ceremony of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia.”
Why Dern Was Chosen
The choice of Laura Dern as the speaker carries particular resonance. In 2025, Dern appeared alongside Clooney in 'Jay Kelly', directed by Noah Baumbach, which competed at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. Their shared history on screen lends the tribute a personal dimension that goes beyond a ceremonial formality.
Dern's own relationship with Venice runs deep. She has attended the festival multiple times — with 'Haunted Summer' directed by Ivan Passer, 'October Sky' helmed by Joe Johnston, 'Inland Empire' on the occasion of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement awarded to David Lynch, and 'Marriage Story' directed by Noah Baumbach, the film for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Most recently, she attended with 'The Son' directed by Florian Zeller.
George Clooney: A Career in Perspective
George Clooney rose to global prominence through the television series ER before establishing himself as one of Hollywood's most bankable and critically respected film stars. His filmography includes 'Ocean's Eleven', 'Up in the Air', 'Syriana', and 'The Descendants'. He has earned Academy Awards for both his acting and producing work and has directed several features. Beyond the screen, Clooney is widely recognised for his humanitarian engagement, including advocacy on global crises and social justice causes.
What to Watch
The Opening Ceremony of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on 2 September will mark the formal conferral of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to Clooney, with Dern's Laudatio setting the tone for one of cinema's most prestigious annual gatherings. The festival's full competition slate is expected to draw considerable attention in the lead-up to the global awards season.
Point of View
Not a ceremonial one. Dern and Clooney share recent screen history through 'Jay Kelly', and Dern's own Venice biography — spanning Lynch's lifetime honour to her Oscar-winning 'Marriage Story' run — gives her tribute an authority that a generic Hollywood tribute would lack. Clooney's Golden Lion also signals Venice's continued appetite for honouring stars who straddle commercial power and artistic credibility. Whether the award reignites conversation around his directorial ambitions, which have been quieter in recent years, is the more interesting question the festival leaves unanswered.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is giving the Laudatio speech for George Clooney at Venice 2025?
Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern will deliver the Laudatio speech honouring George Clooney at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The tribute will take place during the Opening Ceremony on 2 September 2025 at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema.
What award is George Clooney receiving at the Venice Film Festival?
George Clooney is receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. It is one of the most prestigious honours in world cinema, awarded by La Biennale di Venezia.
Why was Laura Dern chosen to honour George Clooney?
Dern and Clooney recently co-starred in 'Jay Kelly', directed by Noah Baumbach, which competed at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in 2025. Their shared professional history and Dern's own long association with Venice made her a fitting choice for the tribute.
When and where is the Golden Lion ceremony for George Clooney?
The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 2 September 2025, at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema on Lido di Venezia, during the Opening Ceremony of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
What are some of George Clooney's most notable works?
Clooney is known for films including 'Ocean's Eleven', 'Up in the Air', 'Syriana', and 'The Descendants'. He has won Academy Awards for both acting and producing and has also directed several films, in addition to his earlier breakthrough on the television series ER.
