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No Hollywood celebrity is as closely associated with Venice as George Clooney. His connection to this enchanting city spans decades, beginning with his first appearance at the Venice Film Festival 26 years ago when he showcased the film “Out of Sight.” Nineteen years ago, he premiered his second film, “Good Night, and Good Luck,” at the festival, which marked his first nomination for best director. And just ten years ago, Venice served as the backdrop for his wedding to Amal Alamuddin at the luxurious Aman Venice hotel, located right by the Grand Canal.
Clooney, much like many others, considers Venice one of the most stunning cities in the world. However, unlike most, he owns a magnificent 15-bedroom villa on Lake Como, which is famous for its appearance in the film “Ocean’s Twelve.”
Even though he’s never too far from Venice or its renowned film festival, it might surprise some to learn that Clooney hasn’t debuted a film there in seven years. That will change next week when he returns with “Wolfs,”, a heist thriller directed by Jon Watts, where he reunites with Brad Pitt.
This won’t be Clooney and Pitt’s first time walking the red carpet together at the festival. To celebrate his much-anticipated return, let’s take a look back at some of Clooney’s most unforgettable moments in Venice.
1998: “Out of Sight”
Clooney and Amal Alamuddin arrive in Venice, Italy for their upcoming wedding. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
2003: “Intolerable Cruelty”
This film, directed by the Coen brothers and starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, premiered out of competition at the Venice Film Festival. Clooney’s Italian residence was already famous, often attracting paparazzi keen on capturing his every move.
In a profile during that time, Vanity Fair writer Ned Zeman noted how a charming Hollywood actor, who didn’t speak Italian and only lived in Italy for part of the year, was becoming one of the most beloved figures in the country.
2005: “Good Night and Good Luck”
Clooney’s critically acclaimed film about journalist Edward R. Murrow debuted in competition at the Venice Film Festival. While it didn’t win the Golden Lion, it received six Oscar nominations, including one for Clooney’s directing. During this visit, he also inspired the creation of a cocktail at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani, which remains popular today.
2007: “Michael Clayton”
This film earned Clooney an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a law firm fixer and competed for the top award at the festival. The Golden Lion once again went to an Ang Lee film.
2008: “Burn After Reading”
Also directed by the Coen brothers, this comedy featuring Clooney and Pitt debuted out of competition. Clooney humorously referred to it as the completion of his “trilogy of idiots” that he portrayed in Coen films.
2011: “The Ides of March”
This political thriller, directed by Clooney and starring Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman, opened the festival out of competition, where Clooney faced numerous political questions from the press.
2013: “Gravity”
Alfonso Cuarón’s space thriller opened the 70th Venice Film Festival and went on to win seven Oscars. Clooney, who attended alongside Sandra Bullock, humorously downplayed his role as the secondary character.
2014: George and Amal Get Married
The couple’s wedding attracted significant media attention, with a crowd of paparazzi capturing the moment as Clooney and Alamuddin exchanged vows at the Aman Grand Canal hotel. Amal wore a stunning Oscar de la Renta dress, while Clooney donned a sleek Giorgio Armani tuxedo.
2017: “Suburbicon”
Clooney returned to the festival with his directorial project, “Suburbicon,” featuring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore. This appearance marked the couple’s first public event following the birth of their twins.
2023: Spotlight on Amal
This time, Clooney was there to support his wife Amal, who was honored for her work as a human rights lawyer. During the event, she expressed her admiration for George, calling him a rising star and complimenting him on his charm that matches the beauty of Venice.
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