Summary
- George Clooney borrowed two cameras on the Venice red carpet
- Before the ceremony, he photographed the press with an ANSA photojournalist’s camera
- After receiving the Golden Lion, he handed the award to AFP photographer Tiziana Fabi and borrowed her camera
- He made four photographs of Fabi, all of them in focus according to her
- Both exchanges took place on September 2, 2026
George Clooney stepped behind the camera twice at the opening of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival: once before receiving his Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and again immediately afterwards.
Both exchanges took place on September 2, 2026, on the red carpet. In the first, he photographed the press photographers. In the second, he handed the award to AFP photographer Tiziana Fabi, borrowed her camera and photographed her.
Before the award ceremony
Before the opening ceremony, Clooney joined the photographers covering the arrivals, sat among them briefly and borrowed the camera of a photojournalist from Italy’s ANSA news agency. He raised it to his eye and turned the lens towards the photographers opposite him.
The Page Six video shows that first exchange, before the award presentation.
After the award ceremony
Later, with the Golden Lion already in his hands, Clooney posed alongside Laura Dern. He then approached Tiziana Fabi, who covers major events for AFP’s Rome bureau.
“I give you the Lion. I take the picture,” he told her. Clooney placed the award in her hands, picked up the camera and made four frames. Fabi said all four were in focus.
One of the photographs shows Fabi smiling as she holds up the Golden Lion. The image was distributed with the credit “George Clooney / AFP.” When the actor returned the camera, he thanked her, while Dern told her, “Congratulations.”
AFP’s video of the exchange is available on YouTube.
The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement
La Biennale di Venezia awarded the American actor, director and producer the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement following a decision by its board and a recommendation from festival artistic director Alberto Barbera. The 83rd festival runs at the Lido from September 2 to 12, 2026.
What we think
Clooney played the same joke twice in one day, with two different results. Before the ceremony, he photographed the photographers; afterwards, he made the frame that stood out: Fabi holding the Golden Lion.
Frequently asked questions
Which agency supplied the camera he used before the ceremony?
It belonged to a photojournalist from the Italian news agency ANSA.
Which photographer lent him her camera after the ceremony?
It was Tiziana Fabi, an AFP photojournalist based in Rome.
How many photographs did he make?
He made four photographs of Fabi, and she said all four were in focus.
