The 83rd Venice Film Festival Kicks Off with a Tribute to Clooney... 'The Photographer'

The 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival opened on Wednesday with a tribute to actor George Clooney, who surprised everyone by presenting the lifetime achievement award to Tiziana Fabi, a photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP), and even took some photos with her camera in a humorous moment.

Clooney, who made his debut at the world’s oldest film festival, remarked after receiving the honorary Golden Lion that a “series of happy events” allowed him to reach stardom, despite starting his acting career late and initially in television.

Following the ceremony, the 65-year-old American star stood on the red carpet before a crowd of photographers alongside his partner, actress Laura Dern. He then approached Fabi, an AFP photographer who covers major entertainment, sports, and political events for the agency’s Rome bureau. He told her, “I’m giving you the Lion,” before adding, “I’ll take the picture.”

Images of the moment, including a photo Clooney took of Fabi smiling while holding the award, spread widely on social media.

When asked about her encounter with the Oscar-winning actor and director, Fabi said, “I don’t know why he chose me.”

She added, “I was very surprised. At first, I felt a bit annoyed. He put the award in my lap and took my camera!” She expressed amazement at Clooney’s skill in using a professional camera, noting that he thanked her profusely when he returned it, while Dern told her, “Congratulations!”

The festival opened on Wednesday evening with the screening of “Ink,” directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle, which chronicles the history of the British newspaper The Sun and its owner, Rupert Murdoch.