George Clooney accepted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival on September 2. But he used the spotlight to deliver a pointed message to authoritarians, saying, “Stories are always dangerous to people who peddle in fear.”
George Clooney speaks out against authoritarians while accepting his Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival
Clooney received the prestigious honor from his longtime friend and occasional co-star Laura Dern. During his acceptance speech, Clooney looked back on his over four-decade-long career. He described his journey as a “series of happy accidents.” The Hollywood star also highlighted the importance of film festivals. He said they remind audiences around the world that people are not “as different as we’re constantly being told.”
He said, as per Variety, “The first people that authoritarians try to shut down are not politicians. They’re journalists who ask questions, they’re the artists who refuse simple answers, the filmmakers, writers, actors and musicians who insist that someone you never met is deserving of your empathy.” The 65-year-old Oscar-winner said that “stories are always dangerous to people who peddle in fear.” He went on to say that people who fear books, music, and stories are “never the heroes in history.”
Clooney acknowledged that movies cannot stop wars, lower inflation, or fix elections. But he believes that they can do something remarkable by reminding people that strangers are not so different from one another. He added that a stranger could even be the hero of someone else’s story. Clooney concluded that as long as people can come together and care about those they have never met, there is reason to remain hopeful.
Several celebrities joined Clooney at the opening night ceremony. The guest list included Jonathan Bailey, Nicholas Galitzine, Chase Sui Wonders, Nina Dobrev, and Zazie Beetz. Alessandra Ambrosio, Hayes Warner, Brittany Snow, Owen Thiele, and Mary Beth Barone also attended the ceremony.
Originally reported by Meenakshi Sengupta for Reality Tea
