Oscar-Winning Actress Ellen Burstyn to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Venice Film Festival

The Venice International Film Festival announced that American actress Ellen Burstyn will receive the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement this year. Burstyn, an acclaimed actress with a career spanning over five decades, will join George Clooney, who is also being honored at the upcoming festival. The award ceremony will take place during the premiere of the short film "Flesh Impact," directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film, created as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe on the centenary of her birth, explores various representations of the iconic star. Burstyn portrays a version of Marilyn Monroe that the world has never seen, while Dakota Johnson plays Monroe at the height of her fame.

Burstyn’s distinguished career includes winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and the Tony Award for "Same Time, Next Year" in 1975. She is among a select group of performers to have won the "Triple Crown of Acting", an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony. Her notable roles include "The Last Picture Show," "The Exorcist," and "Requiem for a Dream," alongside two Emmy wins. At 93, Burstyn recently returned to the screen with roles in "The Exorcist: Believer" and a guest appearance on "Law & Order: Organized Crime."

The 81st Venice International Film Festival will run from September 2 to September 12. The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement is the festival’s highest honor, awarded to cinema professionals for their long-standing contributions to the film industry. Burstyn expressed her gratitude and excitement about receiving the award and visiting one of her favorite cities.