Luca Guadagnino to receive prestigious Venice Film Festival honour

Acclaimed filmmaker Luca Guadagnino will receive the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, recognising his outstanding contribution to contemporary cinema. The honour will be presented during the festival's 83rd edition, which runs from September 2 to 12.

The award will coincide with the world premiere of Guadagnino's latest documentary, Twist and Shoot Mister Suzuki, which screens out of competition in Venice's Films on Film section. The documentary explores the life and career of Japanese filmmaker Seijun Suzuki, whose bold visual style has influenced generations of directors.

Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera praised Guadagnino as one of the defining filmmakers of his generation, highlighting his ability to move effortlessly between genres while maintaining a distinctive cinematic voice. Guadagnino said he was "deeply honoured" to receive the recognition, calling the festival a place that has profoundly shaped his artistic journey.

The Italian director has enjoyed one of the most prolific periods of his career in recent years, following acclaimed films including Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All, Challengers and After the Hunt. He is also bringing another project, the seven-hour Bernardo Bertolucci documentary Joie de Vivre, to this year's Venice Film Festival.

The Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award is presented annually to filmmakers who have made a significant contribution to modern cinema. Previous recipients include Pedro Almodóvar, Wes Anderson, Paul Schrader, Ridley Scott and Werner Herzog, placing Guadagnino among some of the industry's most celebrated directors.