Australian filmmaker Peter Weir, known for directing “Dead Poets Society” and “The Truman Show,” will be celebrated for his illustrious career at this year’s Venice Film Festival, organizers announced Thursday.
Weir, aged 79, gained international recognition with the 1975 arthouse classic “Picnic at Hanging Rock” before making a name for himself in Hollywood during the 1980s.
Among his notable works are the 1985 film “Witness,” starring Harrison Ford, and the epic maritime adventure “Master and Commander” from 2003, featuring fellow Australian Russell Crowe in the lead role.
Having received an Honorary Oscar Award in 2022, Weir will now be honored with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.
Expressing his gratitude, Weir remarked, “The Venice Film Festival and its Golden Lion are part of the folklore of our craft. To be singled out as a recipient for a lifetime’s work as a director is a considerable honor.”
Venice, home to the world’s oldest film festival on its Lido island, is set to host its 81st edition from Aug 28 to Sept 7, with the lineup of competing films expected to be announced in July.
