Article Summary: Ellen Burstyn, 93, accepted Venice's Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement by performing as Marilyn Monroe in Maggie Gyllenhaal's centenary short film. #EllenBurstyn #GoldenLion #VeniceFilmFestival #MarilynMonroe #RunwayMagazine
Ellen Burstyn accepted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2026, and she did it by performing. The 93-year-old actress received the honor at the Sala Grande, then appeared as Marilyn Monroe in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s short film Flesh Impact, marking Monroe’s centenary.
The moment drew a long standing ovation. Gyllenhaal, this year’s jury president, presented the award and paid tribute to Burstyn’s decades of work. Venice Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco handed over the trophy, and Burstyn wiped away tears as the applause continued.
Why did Ellen Burstyn receive a Golden Lion?
Venice honored a career that has shaped American cinema for more than fifty years. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera called Burstyn an actress of rare intensity and truth, citing the complexity she brought to unforgettable female characters.
Her résumé already holds an Oscar, a Tony, and two Emmys. Even so, Burstyn said this recognition felt different and deeply moving. Her best-known films include The Exorcist, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and Interstellar.
What is the film Flesh Impact?
Flesh Impact is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s short film dedicated to Marilyn Monroe on the hundredth anniversary of her birth. Burstyn plays Monroe in the piece, and the festival screened it during the award ceremony. Rather than collect the honor from a distance, she chose to act, treating the tribute as living work instead of a closing chapter.
That choice set her apart from most honorees. Venice’s lifetime Lion has gone to figures like Catherine Deneuve and Ridley Scott, usually late in a career. Burstyn instead used the stage to keep performing.
Who else received a Golden Lion at Venice this year?
George Clooney received the festival’s other Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the opening ceremony on September 2. Our coverage of Clooney’s Golden Lion night and Brad Pitt’s absentee tribute to him tracks the opening honors in full.
The festival has stayed star-heavy throughout. On the fashion side, Kendall Jenner’s vintage Armani debut became one of the week’s defining red-carpet moments. The official Biennale Cinema page confirms both lifetime honors, and Variety reported live from the Burstyn ceremony.
Key Takeaways
- Ellen Burstyn, 93, received Venice’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement on September 7, 2026.
- She accepted it by playing Marilyn Monroe in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s centenary short Flesh Impact.
- George Clooney received the festival’s other lifetime Golden Lion at the September 2 opening.
Burstyn turned a career award into a fresh performance, and Venice gave one of cinema’s great actresses her moment. Follow every festival honor through Runway Magazine.
